BY this time next week, who knows what the British political landscape will look like. We might have a Brexit agreement that has been signed off by Parliament and is awaiting ratification in Brussels. Alternatively, Theresa May’s Government could be on the brink of collapse with Labour having won a no-confidence vote in the wake of a rejection of the Prime Minister’s proposed Brexit deal.

The next five days promise to be some of the most tumultuous in British politics since the end of the Second World War, but whatever happens in the wake of tomorrow’s planned ‘meaningful vote’ on Mrs May’s withdrawal proposals, it can only be positive that the wheels are starting to turn again.

Even if she fears a heavy defeat, Mrs May cannot postpone the vote again. Too much time has already been wasted ahead of the March 29 deadline for leaving the EU, and with a further bout of upheaval seemingly inevitable, further prevarication would be extremely damaging.

Nobody knows how this will play out – but the important thing is that is starts to play out now. If, as Labour hope, there is to be a general election, it will have to take place before the end of February to give the next Government an opportunity to negotiate with the EU.

If Mrs May is to cling to power and see Brexit through, she needs as much time as possible to put the necessary legislation, infrastructure and legal procedures in place.

There has been too much uncertainty throughout the whole Brexit process – it is high time a degree of clarity began to emerge.