What's the worst thing that can happen to Johnson or his government, legally, if he ignores the Benn Act (for now at least) given that he intends to bring legislation on the deal Tuesday, it seems?
Any lawsuits against the government will probably take more than a couple of days to get adjudicated. And if Johnson does get his deal through Parliament next week, civil action based on the Benn Act would most likely be moot because I don't see the EU accepting a delay request that comes after a positive Westminster vote on the deal. Am I missing something here?
Update: Johnson sent the letter unsigned, accompanied by two more documents
The second letter from Mr Johnson - signed off this time - makes clear he personally believes a delay would be a mistake. It says the government will press on with efforts to pass the revised Brexit deal agreed with EU leaders last week into law, and that he is confident of doing so by 31 October.
A cover note from Sir Tim Barrow, the UK's representative in Brussels, explained the first letter complied with the law as agreed by Parliament.
So I guess that muddies the waters even further, but still leaves open the question what anyone could do in the UK in response, through legal judiciary channels.