As if they have not got enough problems with the pandemic, the government have picked a fight over Brexit that is causing international dismay and anger.
They intend to pass, within days, a law which, they admit, is unlawful and repudiates part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement signed with the European Union less than a year ago.
It involves one of the most difficult and controversial aspects of the years-long negotiations - an international agreement on trade between the UK and EU.
In a television interview after the announcement, the Northern Ireland minister, Brandon Lewis, admitted that it breaks international law, but 'only in a very specific and limited way'.
It was enough for the government's chief legal adviser, Sir Jonathan Jones, to resign.
Many Conservative MPs, including some ministers, have condemned the move and former prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair, in a joint letter to the Sunday Times, said it shamed the government and embarrassed the nation, destroying trust in it around the world.
'This way of negotiating with reason cast aside in pursuit of ideology and cavalier bombast as serious diplomacy is irresponsible, wrong in principle and dangerous in practice', they claimed.
Michel Barnier, EU chief negotiator, warned that it would lead to loss of trust and confidence and demanded that it be dropped by the end of the month.
There is little sign of that, with Michael Gove insisting the UK would not back down.
With the law on the rule of six - limiting social gatherings - coming into force today - it's legality questioned - the big increase in coronavirus cases and fresh evidence of the malfunctioning test system, it's going to be a torrid week for the prime minister and the government.
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