Happy holidays, Westminster – Now sort out this utter mess

City workers may have had little sympathy for MPs complaining of their long hours and stressful jobs in recent weeks.

As for the wider public, the fact that politicians have had to postpone their ski trips because of Brexit’s legislative unpredictability is unlikely to generate cries of “poor dears” in the Dog and Duck.

Still, it’s worth remembering that MPs are (for the most part) just like the rest of us. They need a break every once in a while.

There was talk of parliament sitting through the Easter holiday but in the end, the war-weary government realised a holiday might do everyone some good, so MPs are out of town until 23 April.

What should they reflect on from their sun lounger or allotment? The fact that their return to work will come just a month before the country is asked to take part in elections to the European Parliament ought to generate some discomfort.

That we should be asked to send representatives to an organisation we voted to sever links with nearly three years ago represents a staggering political failure.

That the only concrete legislative steps taken by parliament have been to shunt our exit date from 29 March to 12 April and then to 31 October should be taken for what it is: a grotesque humiliation and a damning indictment of the state of Westminster.

Many of those who wish to leave the EU have overplayed their hand and lost, while those who wish to ignore the referendum have been emboldened by their opponents’ failures.

Above it all, the Prime Minister hangs on – a monument to political atrophy. Theresa May’s critics used to concede that she at least had stamina, now even her dwindling supporters are forced to recognise that it looks more like stunned inertia.

And all the while, businesses must contend with uncertainty heaped on top of confusion about whether the UK will leave the EU and, if it does, when will it happen and on what terms?

That these questions remain unanswered as we approach the three-year anniversary of the vote is a disgrace. Our only hope is that MPs realise this over the Easter break and come back to Westminster prepared to do something about it.