The EU agreed to delay the UK’s departure from the EU earlier this week, after Mrs May’s withdrawal deal again failed to pass the Commons. If the Prime Minister’s deal is not passed next week, the departure date will be cut to just 12 April. Several Brexiteer MPs have branded the EU as bullies for their treatment of Theresa May during the talks.

Defending the EU on BBC Dateline, French journalist Agnes Poirier insisted that the EU had been “generous” to its British counterparts.

She told the BBC: “I think the EU has been incredibly intelligent, creative and generous because Britain is our friend.

“The EU is throwing a lifeline to British democracy. Theresa May will stay as Prime Minister for now, though I’m sure she won’t be Prime Minister next Saturday.

“The House of Commons need to take over. Her deal will be rejected a third time next week, if it even goes ahead.

“So either they revoke Article 50 to reset the whole thing or British democracy needs to have a debate.

“Why doesn’t the House of Commons discuss what they want? Perhaps it’s Norway, perhaps it’s Canada, perhaps its Remaining.”

There are certain individuals like Verhofstadt who has been as intransigent and as unpleasant as any of the principle EU leaders

John Fisher Burns

However, foreign correspondent John Fisher Burns hit back: “I’m old enough to be of the generation whose fathers and grandfathers left these shores to fight for the future and liberation of Europe.

“There has not been any sign of gratitude for that.

“There are certain individuals like Verhofstadt who has been as intransigent and as unpleasant as any of the principle EU leaders.

“No matter what she decided to do, Mrs May would have still run into the same intransigence in Brussels.”

He took issue with Ms Poirier’s use of the word “generous” to describe the behaviour of Brussels.

Mr Burns said: “That is not the EU I’ve been watching for some time.

“However unpopular it may be there – is there no legacy or understanding and gratitude for this country that more than once in its history has stood alone and in battle and come to find its destiny with Europe.

“Where is all of that in how the EU has treated Mrs May?”

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