Is the end actually nigh? For two years now, we have expected Brexit to take place on schedule on 29 March. But the proposed Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration have yet to secure approval by the British Parliament, which on 14 February inflicted another defeat on Theresa May’s government on a resolution which did little more than approve of her handling of Brexit. The Labour Party’s proposals were also rejected by Parliament on 27 February, shifting the party’s policy to support for anew referendum.

The British Attorney-General, Geoffrey Cox, has assumed the de facto role of chief negotiator for the UK in teasing out any possible changes or additions to the “backstop”, the proposed mechanism to prevent the return of a hard Irish border in the event that the UK is not able to move quickly to a new trade agreement with the EU. The British have apparently dropped demands for the right to unilaterally abandon the backstop, or for a firm time limit, which apparently still leaves plenty to talk about

It’s very difficult to see that any conceivable tweaks that Cox secures from Brussels could gain approval from the European Research Group, which has appointed a group of eight parliamentary lawyers (including the Democratic Unionist Party’s Nigel Dodds) to scrutinise any new proposals. On the other hand Brussels and Dublin have been equally clear that there is some but not much room for manoeuvre. The EU has little patience left for the British.

(More embarrassment: the UK’s No-Deal contingency supply agreement with a ferry company that had no boats collapsed, and the courts then ordered the government to pay Eurotunnel to settle a compensation claim over the deal. And the Japanese car-makers Honda are closing their factory in Swindon, claiming unconvincingly that this has nothing to do with Brexit.

Currently scheduled for next week are three parliamentary votes: potential approval of the current deal as tweaked, on 12 March; a straight vote for or against leaving the EU without a deal on 13 March; and then a vote on whether or not to ask for an extension of the 29 March deadline, to take place on 14 March. No vote on a new referendum is currently planned; it’s difficult to see such a vote passing, as the number of Labour MPs opposed to such a vote is rather large.

Very few observers expect anything other negative results to the first two of next week’s planned resolutions, with Parliament again rejecting both of the options currently on the table – particularly now that the government for the first time has conceded that an extension of the Brexit period is possible, a concession that triggered yet another government resignation.

However, given the continuing uncertainty, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier now accepts that a delay will be needed even if the deal is approved on 12 March, simply to pass the necessary legislation.

Over the first few days of March, a number of commentators claimed to have detected signs of movement; that formerly Eurosceptic Tories are moving towards support for the deal with the forthcoming tweaks, and that there is therefore a chance that the 12 March vote may actually pass. A 5 March survey of London banking analysts found that 37% of them believe this will be the outcome, with 54% expecting a postponement and only 9% contemplating No Deal. Personally I think they are optimists. The numbers are not there.

I want to close by noting a few pieces by articulate British people whom I know, who feel bereft and betrayed by Brexit and are coming to terms with it in their own ways. Gareth has become Belgian. Andrew has moved to Dublin. Natalie grieves for the loss of her sense of community in Britain. Paul feels the same about his home in Italy. Personally, I am fortunate enough to have three citizenships, of the UK, Ireland and Belgium. My British passport expired in February 2017; I did not renew it, and I don’t think I ever will.