The Prime Minister sent his final proposals to the EU last week before warning French President Emmanuel Macron that Brussels should not be lured into the “mistaken belief” Britain could extend its membership of the bloc beyond October 31. But in a telephone call on Sunday, the French president reportedly told Mr Johnson the EU will decide at the end of this week whether a deal is possible. Speaking about Mr Johnson’s Brexit proposal, Mr Bonnell told Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 live: “It’s not a final version – it’s almost like a joke. We don’t even understand it.

“I think Boris Johnson is in a nightmare between a rock and a hard place of staying for a deal by October 31 but refusing the actual deal that is in place.

“There is now a dramatic change that we offer no deal.”

He added: “This is not a genuine offer. This is clearly a political manipulation to put the responsibility of a no deal Brexit on the EU’s side.”

Explaining his objection to the proposal, he said: “First of all, what he is suggesting right now is a very complex process, and even more complicated than what is proposed by the backstop.

“Secondly, it’s again a last-minute proposal, as if he wanted to force the issue and put the responsibility of a no deal Brexit onto the EU’s shoulders.

“I mean we don’t want to pick and choose here. He is the one who refused the deal that was in place, that was proposed, that was negotiated.”

He added: “The proposals that have been presented so far have not been so exciting, and are complexifying the process that he, himself, wanted to simplify.

“So I don’t think you can ask the EU for another round of negotiations at this stage.”

If a deal isn’t signed off by both the EU and MPs at home by October 19, the law states Mr Johnson must request an extension from the EU, delaying the date until at least the end of January 2020.

Mr Johnson has not minced words when it comes to his thoughts on this, saying: “I’d rather be dead in a ditch than ask for another delay.”

Speaking at the party conference this week, Mr Johnson added: “If we fail to get an agreement then let us be in no doubt that the alternative is no deal.

“That is not an outcome we want. It is not an outcome we seek at all.

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“But let me tell you this conference it is an outcome for which we are ready.”

Mr Johnson could rely on the EU vetoing his request of an Article 50 extension under the Benn Act.

EU rules dictate every single EU leader must agree to a request such as an article extension, meaning even one veto would collapse the request.

But the EU wants to avoid a no deal and is deeply reluctant to close the door on the possibility of a deal.

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