Is Parliament Confused or Ossified?

 Ed Wilson, in a recent tweet (@eddwilson) asked if Parliament was too weak to stop this agonising stasis that sees us drifting (with what feels like gathering speed) towards a 'no deal Brexit'.

I suppose Parliament has the power it thinks it has, or believes it has, or can persuade us that it has; "Possunt, quia posse videntur".  So what is the problem?  

° Are MPs too polite? Are they deferring to the high office of the Queen's first minister? Of course it is a very difficult job, and perhaps we should let her have another shot? But no! This is too serious.

° Or perhaps parliamentary procedure has got ossified in its own tradition, and there is no-one to grab the mace (so to say). No-one dares to put forward a motion that could command a majority, because "it is the governments job to initiate legislation"? And the Government is waiting on the Prime Minister. 

° Or is Parliament simply confused, like the rest of us? The Prime Minister spent 2 years negotiating a deal, presented it to Parliament, which duly rejected it. Then the following Vote of Confidence was passed! But..... But surely.....? 

Was this craven? MPs voting simply to keep their seats, rather than on the issue of the deal, and the confidence of the House in that deal. Not quite! Because, of course, some MPs probably thought the deal too 'Brexity', while others thought it not 'Brexity' enough. 

I hope someone, before the 29th March, has the courage to propose that Article 50 be revoked, or delayed for a good long time, to give the country a chance to see where it is heading. 

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Cawstein