PARLIAMENT has now effectively legislated that Britain cannot leave the EU without a deal.

The House of Commons voted to pass an unprecedented emergency bill, in peacetime, in one day, to seek an extension to Article 50 essentially scuppering a no deal.

It was passed by one vote and it turns out that a Labour MP, recently convicted of perverting the course of justice, was able to vote having been given early release from prison, having just served one week of her sentence.

That this country’s future could be decided by a convicted criminal says it all ­— you could not make it up.

This country has indeed come to a very sorry state of affairs.

This turn of events means that Parliament has effectively handed over this country’s fate to the other 27 members of the EU.

Unless May and Corbyn agree a way forward, a way forward that will not be Brexit in the true meaning of the word, then the EU in theory could allow us to leave tomorrow without a deal, but that is unlikely to happen.

We will now be at the behest of the EU in how long an extension they would allow ­— it could be months or years.

Equally we will be at their mercy in any negotiations that would follow a watered-down Brexit.

However, Brexit may still never happen at all for it is not in Mr Corbyn’s political interest to help Mrs May.

If the government collapses and an election is called it is highly likely a coalition government led by Mr Corbyn would be the likely outcome, a government formed with the Scots Nationalists, Liberals, Greens, etc.

In that situation another referendum might be called or indeed Article 50 may be revoked and we stay in the EU.

Brexit has been hijacked by Remain MPs, against the wishes of the electorate, abetted by a Prime Minister who has failed in her negotiations with the EU.

The referendum might have split the country, but the consequences now are far more precarious for this country where political and economic upheaval are the likely result.

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