The UK is on course to leave the EU on October 31, the third Brexit date since Article 50 was twice extended under Theresa May. The promise of a Halloween Brexit has become the pivotal point in the Tory leadership campaign, with both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt saying they would be willing to leave without a deal. But when it comes down to it, both candidates admit a no deal scenario isn’t best for the country.

So what would happen if another extension were to be agreed on?

Leaving aside growing social and political divides, a further extension would, again, allow more time to negotiate the terms of withdrawal.

But Ms von der Leyen wouldn’t be the only one able to grant this, all 27 remaining EU members would need to agree on it too, and patience is wearing thin.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that leaders wouldn’t grant another extension for anything than to provide time for a second referendum or general election.

So another extension would likely mean heading back to the polls for the UK.

Could this happen?

The chances of the Government calling a snap election at this stage are minimal, as a new Prime Minister will not want to risk it amid rapidly decreasing support for the Tories.

But if Parliament intervenes and successfully tables a motion of no-confidence, it could happen.

This is likely to come down to the next Prime Minister, who, by all accounts and opinion polls, will be Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson has said he’d take the UK out on Halloween, “do or die”.

But the PM hopeful will face immense pressure not to allow a no deal scenario, which he himself has said is not a desirable outcome and is just being threatened as a negotiating tactic.

He said he wants EU leaders to “look deep into our eyes and think, ‘My God, these Brits actually are going to leave. And they’re going to leave on those terms’.”

The idea being that this fear would kick the EU into renegotiating on the backstop.

However, another point made by Ms von der Leyen this week was there is still absolutely no room for renegotiation on the withdrawal agreement.

So if it’s just a negotiating tactic for Mr Johnson and his intentions aren’t to go against all advice to leave with a deal, extending Article 50 would seriously damage his credibility and easily lead to a general election.

It remains to be seen whether he will follow through on his threat or whether it really is just negotiating smoke and mirrors.

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