COULD a government of national unity actually happen?

A once unimaginable idea in peacetime has been suggested for real this past week in a bid to stop the no deal Brexit Boris Johnson's administration seems not only comfortable with, but fully embracing.

I have written in these columns about how we got here, about why we need to respect the result of the referendum - but not through a crazy no deal - and where I think we are heading (spoiler: leaving the European Union by the end of October and a general election before Christmas).

READ MORE: Fair Point: The once unthinkable is now real, but can Boris deliver Brexit?

Coalition talk has seemed to intensify in the usually quiet summer period at Westminster after Boris Johnson appeared not to rule out shutting down Parliament.

For many sick of the Westminster bubble and who saw the chaos of early in the year that might seem a good thing, until they realise the default position is we crash out on October 31.

To put it simply with the government and EU refusing to budge and reopen negotiations, and if the House of Commons wasn't in session in October, that would make no deal inevitable.

With that in mind first new Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson suggested a caretaker government of opposition parties, but crucially not headed by the leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn.

That is of course a ridiculous position - a case of 'I want to stop no deal Brexit at all costs', and then in the next breath come up with an exception.

For his part Mr Corbyn sent a letter attempting to build a cross-party coalition promising to force out the new PM, delay Brexit under a caretaker government then call an election.

In truth Mr Corbyn will know he probably doesn't have the numbers right now to win a vote of no confidence, despite Boris Johnson's government now having a majority of just one.

But he will know things can change quickly, especially as we get closer to October. I still would be very surprised to see it happen though.

And even if somehow it did, a coalition would likely struggle to survive beyond a few weeks.

So as always in these unprecedented times we are left with more questions than answers, lots of uncertainty, and all while the latest deadline approaches on the horizon.

READ MORE: Fair Point: We have to leave, we have to respect the referendum result