Theresa May's 'Red White and Blue' Brexit

Bahrain couldn't be more different to the UK right now.

It's hot, they frown heavily (and often unfairly) on criticism of the government, and Bahrain is having talks with other Gulf states about how to increase the union between them (the Gulf Cooperation Council is sometimes referred to as a mini EU in this region).

Theresa May by contrast has flown here from a cold UK, where criticism of government is being aired in the highest court in the land, and we're breaking away from the EU.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister has come here to look ahead to a potentially lucrative trade deal with this region when the UK finally completes the Brexit process.

And she's prepared to "engage" with these countries despite their much criticised approach to human rights and their willingness to crush opposition.

But her discussions on closer trade ties with the Gulf might appear to be more than a little premature.

Back at home, she still doesn't have permission to trigger the Article 50 divorce from the EU - and she won't know if she'll have it until the Supreme Court decision in January.

And she faces a Tory revolt in the Commons tomorrow.

A couple of dozen Conservative MPs are expected to support a Labour motion calling on the government to publish a plan for Brexit negotiations.

A defeat on that motion (albeit a non binding vote) would be humiliating for the prime minister.

Add to that, the news this morning that the EU's Brexit point man, Michel Barnier, wants to conclude talks with the UK by October 2018.

That just 18 months after Mrs May plans to trigger Article 50.

The EU have never worked at such speed before on a deal as complex as this one and there's no indication either that it can move so fast this time.

The Prime Minister told me here in Bahrain that she needs to be able keep her cards close to her chest and she will only give information when she thinks it's in Britain's interest to do so.

She called her plan a 'Red White and Blue Brexit' - one which is right for the UK (as opposed to the other Brexits often talked about: Black Brexit, Grey Brexit, Hard Brexit, Soft Brexit).

But right now her options for her 'ambitious' British deal on trade and immigration appear to be narrowing all the time.