Saturday, October 12

France says non to Brexit delay beyond October 31


 

 

The EU will refuse another delay to Brexit in the current circumstances, according to the France’s Foreign Minister.

Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday that as things stand, a delay beyond the October 31 deadline would not be granted.

Asked if a Brexit delay was possible, the French minister told Europe 1 radio not under the current conditions.

“We are not going to do [extend] this every three months,” he added. “The British must tell us what they want.”

He described the current situation as “very worrying”.

It comes after parliament passed a law aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit, which would force Boris Johnson to seek an extension.

The Prime Minister has said he would not ask for a delay in any circumstances, but Mr Le Drian’s comments suggest his request would be denied even if he was forced to by law.

But on Sunday, it was reported that Mr Johnson is planning to ignore the legislation and instead go to the EU summit next month and seek a new deal.

The Sunday Times reports that, if a deal is not agreed, Mr Johnson will refuse to demand the extension to Article 50.