Brexit: This wild rollercoaster ride will just get wilder

The tellers (L-R) Labour Party MP Bambos Charalambous, Labour Party MP Nick Smith and Conservative MP Alister Jack deliver the result of the amended motion on ruling out leaving the EU with no deal. Picture; AFP.

The extraordinary has become the ordinary. So too has the madness. In chaotic angry scenes in the British parliament, all of the traditional norms have been discarded as the House of Common’s pro-Remain MPs ignore what 17.4 million people voted for.

This morning’s events, where one Cabinet minister resigned in the corridors in order to defy the government whip, 17 Tories crossed the floor and four Cabinet ministers abstained from voting, demonstrates Theresa May’s loss of control of her party.

A no-deal Brexit is now off the table, tieing Mrs May’s hands with the immovable EU, and allowing parliamentarians to wrest power of the Brexit process.

Normally, in such an event, there would be sackings galore and the Prime Minister’s resignation. But these are topsy-turvy Brexit times and the upheaval is not just confined to the Tories. Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, a known Eurosceptic, can’t even decide if he will support a second referendum or not.

The entire House now appears to be in revolt, making for an even wilder rollercoaster ride tomorrow when another amendable motion, calling for an extension to Article 50 is tabled. Mrs May wants a short sharp extension, but she acknowledges that it may turn out to be a drawn out affair - if of course, the EU approve such a move.

This could have the cold water effect on the Brexiteers in her party, forcing them to swing back behind her withdrawal bill, which, despite being heavily defeated twice, might re-emerge if there is sudden support for it.

Another option is that there could be a coalescence around a softer Brexit, or a second referendum. But if no clear option emerges, the only viable end to the mess is a general election.

Article 50 options

Short extension to Article 50

On Friday (AEDT) MPs vote for a short extension to Article 50. However even if this passes, it would have to be accepted by all 27 members of the EU and the bloc has already stated that it would not agree an extension unless a deal is in place.

This means Mrs May’s deal would have to be passed in a meaningful vote by March 20

Longer extension to Article 50

If MPs fail to pass Mrs May’s withdrawal deal by March 20, there would probably need to be a longer extension to Article 50; however this would almost certainly mean Britain having to hold European Parliament elections on May 23.