Another interesting week in politics. The government lost control of the parliamentary timetable, the Prime Minister fell on her sword trying to get her deal through parliament, but apparently missed as her deal failed for the third time. It’s not going well.

More alarmingly, talk escalated of a general election to tackle the parliamentary impasse. There have been some interesting ideas around, some good, some bad. But this must be the dumbest of them all.

The idea that a single-issue problem (albeit complex in itself) can be resolved by a multi-issue election is fanciful.

In presenting a solution to Brexit, voters will be asked to decide on a vast array of issues. The result will be no clear mandate, a new cast of actors, but the same old ghastly play.

Moreover, Theresa May has guaranteed she will stand down as soon as the withdrawal agreement is passed. We will be fighting an election clueless who will be prime minister beyond a few weeks after the election.

Under the Fixed Term Parliament Act, a prime minister must get the support of 66 per cent of MPs, as happened in 2017. But in pondering the prospect of a general election, I was committed to voting against it.

This worried me. Whilst I am dead against another misguided general election, I am not sure it is right to expressly deny my constituents a democratic voice. It just feels wrong.

If we get to the stage that we simply cannot find a solution in parliament and the only – the only – solution is returning to the electorate, what should we do?

What is the answer to the question: we need an election, but how? If it is not a general election, then uniquely under these circumstances, it must be a referendum on the proposed deal or an alternative.

If an election is the answer to a singular question, it cannot be a multi-issue general election - it must be a single-issue referendum and “Remain” may not be on the ballot paper

That is why I supported the option for a people’s vote on Monday. Not because I am ideologically betrothed to a second referendum, but because I wanted to put a marker down that I will not support a general election to resolve Theresa May’s problems.

But I also voted against revoking Article 50 and I am committed to getting the withdrawal agreement through, so we can move on before any need for further elections.