Brexit - the road narrows

At each stage of this protracted Brexit process, the closer we get to the end of the month, the number of remaining options decreases and the choices available to those holding power become more stark. Parliament may today vote against no deal, and may tomorrow vote to ask for an extension of Article 50, but as far as I can see neither vote matters very much. The only meaningful vote that Parliament could now take would be to withdraw Article 50 completely – and this would almost certainly mean a General Election to follow which few now in the House would welcome; voters in most constituencies would slaughter them.

It’s now all in the hands of the EU – and this time, not just the unelected officials. If Parliament asks for an extension, it will be up to the individual EU governments whether to agree. There is talk of a year’s extension but I don’t give this much credence. They’ve already redistributed the UK seats, will be voting from May and won’t want Farage’s Brexit Party back in July, crowding the UK seats as they will have annihilated Conservative and Labour MEPs. As far as they’re concerned, we’ve left. So they may agree a few weeks delay – until the EP rises in May.

So MPs, it appears, can only choose to cancel the Referendum, or choose to swallow the Selmayr-Robbins Treaty, or choose to allow us to Leave in May. What other options are there?