Why does the PM continue to insist that leaving on March 29 is achievable? At this stage, it is quite obviously impossible.

When a dog goes swimming, you can see its head bobbing gently above the water. Below the surface, however, its legs are paddling frantically to propel it forward.

For British politics, alas, the story is currently the exact opposite. We have been overwhelmed by a hyperactive brand of inertia. Despite the impression of frenetic surface activity in government, very little is actually happening – yet our politicians are desperately trying to pretend that it is. If they were in the water alongside the dog, they would be in a rowing boat, paddling in circles with a single oar.

For some time, the Prime Minister’s strategy has been to run the clock down to force Eurosceptic MPs to support her flawed deal, while making public statements claiming progress in discussions with the European Union.

Today’s developments were a case in point. Following the threat of multiple Cabinet resignations, the PM made clear that she will allow the Commons to delay the process if they reject her deal. This would, unsurprisingly, make a no-deal outcome much less likely (at least for now), despite the harmful repercussions for Britain’s negotiating strategy. It remains unclear what an extension, however “short” or “time-limited”, would actually achieve.