The UK is thrown at the mercy of Brussels on Brexit

The so-called Plan B of May was approved by a majority of members of parliament, with some amendments. And it is these amendments that gave substance to this plan.

In short, Parliament told us that it was in favor of May being sent back to Brussels to obtain concessions on the support of Northern Ireland. This is the part of the withdrawal agreement that aims to prevent the return of border infrastructure between the Republic of Ireland, which will remain in the European Union, and Ireland's North, which will leave with the United Kingdom. This is the most controversial issue in the ranks of the conservative party of Theresa May.

But there is a problem.

The EU has always said that the withdrawal agreement was concluded, blocked and not renegotiable. No matter how many EU officials, diplomatic sources or even May herself told her rebels this, they seem to think that somehow. But without the reopening of the withdrawal agreement, the bulletproof can not be changed.

And if the government finally decides to extend the deadline for Brexit, it will have to be approved by the European Council, the body that includes the leaders of each member state. It should be approved unanimously, which means that any country can exercise its right of veto and, as you can see, 28 is an important figure.

Unless the UK is willing to admit that the May deal is dead, it is unlikely that the EU will give it more time to keep screaming on the moon. As a European diplomatic source told me recently, the EU is reluctant to rephrase something that has taken 28 years to 28 nations to negotiate in the hope of improving it in a few weeks.

So if the EU refuses to play ball, it's a curtain for May's contract and perhaps with her leadership, right?

Not exactly. Paradoxically, it could actually help the Prime Minister make it clear to MPs that his family has been privately entrusted to him for months: this is really the only deal on the table right now, so make no mistake.

For those tough, it is inconceivable that the prospect of Brexit be relaxed – or worse, canceled – by pro-European MPs in the House of Commons. And even if the talks on the withdrawal agreement could be locked for the moment, if the May agreement resonates a second time, new options will have to be explored.

In these circumstances, it is plausible that the EU gives the UK a little more time to determine what it wants. Maybe a general election, a change of government or (murmuring) a second referendum. Brexit would be delayed and in some respects ragged.

At this point, May's message to MPs should be simple: this agreement meets the basic principles of Brexit. Once the UK leaves the EU and enters the implementation period, you will have plenty of time to talk about what you want next. But if you want a Brexit, here is the Brexit – and you can have it on March 29th. Get on board or take the risk of having the Brexit removed.

The threat also benefits those who are mortified for fear of collapsing without an agreement. The process of Article 50 – the official way out of the EU – is almost complete. Without a revocation of Article 50 – whose request is in the UK gift, but is also a total headache – the default is that the UK leaves the EU on March 29, with or without agreement. Again, support me or burn the house.

If it manages to shake enough fear into enough people from either side, then boom: the case is done. But if Parliament continues to speak to itself and not to Brussels, it will not be good.

Everything becomes a bit desperate here in London.