A man dressed as a pro-Brexit, pro-Israel leprechaun danced outside the Supreme Court today to tell us Nigel Farage was sent by Jesus to save us from the Third World War.
The bare-legged campaigner performed a sprightly Irish jig as judges debated one of the most serious constitutional cases in British history, thereby eliminating the need for anyone to make up any kind of joke about the proceedings.
The performer’s exact view on whether the Government could use Royal Prerogative to leave the EU was unclear.
It was clear however that he thinks Farage was “sent by Christ to get Britain out of Europe and fulfil bible prophecy”.
His other signs made it clear he feels Britain will be on the same side as Israel in an impending Third World War, whereas the rest of Europe will fight on the opposing side.
His views on Irish culture remain undeclared. People believed the man was Neil Horan, a defrocked Irish Catholic priest who has previously disrupted major events like the Grand Prix and the Olympics and appeared on Britain’s Got Talent.
He was called a “sex elf” in one tweet that adapted Theresa May’s mantra on Brexit.
Inside the Supreme Court, the Government’s lawyer was on his feet, arguing why Article 50 can be triggered without a vote in parliament.
Farage’s relationship with Christ or the likelihood of the Third World War are not expected to come up in legal arguments.
The pro-Brexit leprechaun was opposed by a double decker bus full of people dressed as judges, who were the most colourful of the pro-Remain demonstrators.
There were more conventional protestors condemning the judges but it was unlikely they numbered 100,000 - the number Farage had originally pledged to march to Parliament Square before deciding not to.
Protest numbers are always controversial but it was fairly clear the numbers were not in six figures.
The first day of the hearing was less dramatic than journalists would have liked.
Other journalists tried to sum up the Government’s case - that it didn’t need parliament’s permission to leave the EU - in terms readers might prefer to the detail of law.
Another journalist embraced the rage for “Post Truth” politics with his thread of tweets commentating on the proceedings.
With all 11 judges on the Supreme Court sitting for the first time, comedian David Schneider speculated about their tactics.
The hearing, probably the highest profile in the court’s history, was live-streamed, the judges felt the glare of public attention - one judge more than others.
Despite Lord Sumption’s wizardry, The Supreme Court’s verdict is not due until January.