Negotiation 101.

In June 2016 the British electorate voted to leave the European Union (EU). The so-called; "Brexit."

Following some heavy resistance the British Parliament voted to honour this public vote. By passing the European Union (Withdrawal) Act in March 2017.

This invoked Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. Setting, in law, the date that Britain will leave the EU. March 29th 2019 (29/3/19).

In November 2018 Britain and the EU reached a Withdrawal Agreement.

The British Parliament were set to pass that Withdrawal Agreement into law in December 2018. However due to a strong possibility the Withdrawal Agreement would be defeated this December 2018 vote was cancelled.

In January 2019 Parliament did indeed vote on the Withdrawal Agreement. They voted against it. By a record majority of 230 votes.

On Tuesday (12/3/19) the Withdrawal Agreement was reintroduced into the British Parliament. It was again rejected. However by a significantly reduced majority of just 149 votes.

On Wednesday (13/3/19) Parliament voted on the non-binding concept of rejecting leaving the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement. This concept was adopted by a majority of 43 votes. The specific amendment rejecting this so-called; "No Deal" passed with a majority of just 4 votes.

Today (14/3/19) the British Parliament voted on a binding motion instructing the government to seek permission from the EU to extend Article 50. That passed by 210 votes.

So we've gone through all this just so British MP's can finally learn the basic, first principle of any negotiation;

You've Got to Get the Other Side to Agree.

This vote has only taken place in the last hour or so. As such Britain is yet to write its request to extend Article 50. Let alone present it to the EU for consideration.

Therefore I wouldn't like to speculate on this request's chances of success. However the omens do not seem good.

On Tuesday (12/3/19) the EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) grounded the Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

This grounding order was issued at around 16:00 (GMT). However it was delayed taking effect until 19:00 GMT. The exact time the British Parliament was scheduled to vote on, and likely reject, the Withdrawal Agreement.

So there certainly seem to be some within the EU taking the position that if British MP's are going to continue to behave like petulant schoolchildren.

Well, then the EU are going to treat them like petulant schoolchildren.

19:45 on 14/3/19 (UK date).