The French foreign minister confirmed today that European Union would not grant Britain an extension beyond October 31st in current circumstances. Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday that as things stand, a delay beyond the October 31 deadline would not be granted. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage hit back at these claims as desperate attempts tp pressure Boris Johnson into agreeing to Theresa May’s troubled Withdrawal Agreement.

Speaking to Europe 1 Radio earlier today, Mr Drian said: “It’s very worrying. The British must tell us what they want.”

Asked if an extension beyond October 31st was possible, he said: “We are not going to do this every three months. There’s no majority for anything.”

In response, Mr Farage fired back on his LBC programme: “You can see very clearly what the French are trying to do.

“They are trying to pressure Boris and Parliament into agreeing to the Withdrawal Agreement.”

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Tory Brexiteer Peter Bone echoed this, adding: “I think the French don’t want us in the EU causing endless trouble to their plans for a superstate.

“They fear we could shatter the EU agenda. This may well put pressure on the EU negotiators to come out with some sort of deal.

“It is incredible too me that the EU doesn’t agree to a Free Trade Agreement right now.” 

The French pressure 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 repeatedly said he would not ask for a delay, but Mr Drian’s comments suggest his request would be denied even if he was forced to.

Mr Johnson is instead expected ignore the no deal legislation and go to the EU summit next month and seek a new deal.

Even if a deal is not agreed, Mr Johnson will refuse to demand the extension to Article 50, according to Chancellor Sajid Javid.

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The EU has repeatedly said that it will not renegotiate the deal they agreed with Theresa May.

France has since stepped up its no deal preparations.

At the end of August, it was announced that tens of thousands of French firms trading with Britain will face a one-month “dress rehearsal” for a no deal Brexit.

Despite the hard line stance from Boris Johnson, the Conservative have grabbed a huge 14-point lead over Labour in the latest opinion polls.

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