What was PM May thinking?
The PM has negotiated a transitional arrangement with the EU to keep everything working smoothly after Brexit. That would then allow us a couple of years to negotiate a long-term trade deal with the EU.
The EU are worried that those long-term talks might fail which would leave an open border between Eire (EU) and Northern Ireland (non-EU) so they have included a 'backstop' in the transitional deal. If it was ever triggered it would leave the UK stuck with EU rules and tie Northern Ireland more closely to the EU.There would no way for the UK to get out of the backstop without EU approval.
However, the backstop is also a really bad position for the EU. Nobody wants to end up in the backstop or to stay in it. However avoiding a hard border in Ireland is a must.
May has tried and failed to convince MPs that we can't get any deal without a backstop.
A majority of MPs are pro-EU and will use any excuse to overturn the democratic decision of the people.
Parliament has voted that they do not want to leave without a deal. They have voted that they don't want a second referendum. They have voted they don't want Theresa May's deal. The EU have made clear no other deal is possible.
The Speaker of the House (smarmy bastard) has ruled that the PM cannot bring the deal to the House for a third time. The deadline is looming.
May is off to Europe on Thursday to ask for an extension.