Jean-Christophe Lagarde, the leader of the centrist UDI party list for the upcoming European Parliament elections, urged French President to act. EU leaders have extended the deadline for Brexit until late October, but the May government hopes to leave in the coming weeks to avoid taking part in the May parliamentary elections.  “I am asking the President of the Republic to reach out to them and say: ‘Since we need to transform Europe since we need to rewrite the treaties – something which is paralysed as a result of the unanimity rule –, come with us and help us rewrite these treaties’.”

If this is not the way forward for [the British people, there will always be time to leave [the EU]

Jean-Christophe Lagarde

Mr Lagarde insisted: “If this is not the way forward for [the British people, there will always be time to leave [the EU].”  

Mr Macron, a vocal europhile, has taken an intransigent stance during divorce negotiations, taking responsibility earlier this month for blocking a long Brexit delay. 

“But there comes a moment when you need to change the rules of the game. And the British, if they want to leave – it is, of course, their right – will leave before the end of the year. But, we could still ask them to take part in the rewriting of a more ambitious Europe. One that is not just focused on trade,” he continued. 

Europe, the veteran centrist stressed, must strive to become an “industrial power” in the face of a more assertive China and rising American protectionism. 

Mr Lagarde, however, described Brexit as “absurd”: “It seems clear that [the British] made an absurd decision that they don’t know how to handle.”  

The three-year Brexit crisis has left Britain bitterly divided, as worries mount over when, how and if the country will leave the bloc as planned.

Later on Tuesday, however, the Times newspaper reported Prime Minister Theresa May’s government had made substantive progress in Brexit talks with the opposition Labour Party, citing unnamed Labour sources. 

The EU hopes Britain’s two biggest political parties will reach an agreement on Brexit this week, possibly including membership on a customs union. 

Mrs May struck a withdrawal deal with European leaders late last year, but it was rejected three times by parliament. The EU consequently extended the deadline for Britain to leave the bloc until October 31 – deal or no deal –, but the delay has only served to heighten political uncertainty. 

The Prime Minister, for her part, hopes Britain can leave the EU before it has to take part in elections for the European Parliament on May 23. But time is running out. 

In order to cancel the elections, she will need to win a vote in parliament approving a Brexit deal and pass the legislation to implement it. Both stages are difficult because disagree over the best way forward. 

If Mrs May fails to win over lawmakers on the treaty or fails to hold an election, Britain will leave the bloc without a deal on June 1.

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