A RESOUNDING defeat of the PM’s Brexit bill in the House of Commons paves the way for the long-awaited introduction of new ideas, hitherto lacking in an increasingly acrimonious Parliamentary atmosphere.

One such, whose time may well be thought to have come, entails first pausing Article 50 and extending the fast approaching March 29 deadline for exiting the EU.

A much-needed, thorough and wide ranging examination of the issues facing the country could then be instituted by MPs empowering fully representative “citizens’ assemblies”.

Any resultant advice from these to Parliament would precede and inform a referendum to be held later in the year.

Such a bold step would provide a practical solution to the intractability threatening to continue to leave Parliament deadlocked while deep divisions fester and are inadequately addressed in the country.

Steve Williams, Foxhill, Peacehaven