The important point is that nothing in Article 50 provides that negotiations must wait until we leave: quite the contrary.
Contrary ?
Equally, there is nothing in Article 50 that says the EU is under any obligation to negotiate with a country prior to receiving notice under Art50. Only proviso is that legal notice must be given in accordance with the departing state's constitutional requirements.
Given that Parliament has yet to make a final decision, and that at this moment in time, there are constitutional issues to be resolved - the UK parliament must first resolve these 'inconsistencies' (Scotland and Northern Ireland) before doing so. Notice under Article 50 won't be issued anytime soon - even 'Brexit means Brexit' Theresa May has conceded that any future administration is unlikely to be in a position to do so before the end of the year at the earliest, more probably 2017 if not later. The UK has consistently stated that the timing is within their discretion and their discretion alone. So, for the time being, it's business as usual.
Under Article 50 it is for the other 27 countries to decide, by majority vote and without British participation, the terms of Britain’s exit. The article sets a two-year deadline for this process, which can be extended only by unanimous agreement of all 27 countries. If no deal is agreed in that time, Britain would cease to be an EU member and revert to trading with the EU on normal World Trade Organisation rules.
Furthermore, exit negotiations are distinct and separate from trade negotiations. The two can run in parallel but there is no necessity or obligation on either side to commence a trade discussion before proper notice is tendered. Delaying notice under Art50 won't help.
Add to the above the political crisis triggered by the referendum, and the growing likelihood of further political upheaval, let alone the possibility of a general election - it's not too hard to understand the EU's hesitation in moving forward until the UK has resolved these and is in a position to formally tender notice.
The biggest threat to our Parliamentary democracy isn't the EU, but the current lack of a credible opposition and key members of the Government that so far seems to place personal ambition above the national interest.
