French minister says country 'sceptical' over third Brexit extension

A French minister has warned the country is sceptical about UK MPs pushing for a third Brexit extension, saying it will not solve the "problem."

France's Europe Minister Amelie de Montchalin said the UK could not delay the process again, "without changing anything".

Mrs De Montchalin was speaking the day after British MPs approved a bill that could force Boris Johnson to delay Brexit until January next year.

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The minister said France was continuing to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

She told Radio Classique: "It's not because a problem is complicated that by diluting it over time and delaying it for three months without changing anything, it will be resolved.

"When I hear the British saying 'Give us three months more and we will solve the problem', we can see that another six months would not solve the problem, nor another three months.

"They have to be able to tell us what they want. We know what they don't want but we are still struggling to understand what they do want.”

Meanwhile, a former French ambassador claimed French President Emmanuel Macron could veto another delay to Brexit because of the “deteriorating situation” in the UK.

Pierre Sellal told BBC Radio 4: “The situation of the UK as a member state becomes every day more awkward and strained.

“Maybe what is missing today is this trust about the way your country sees its future with the European Union.

“In this regard, I believe that the situation has been deteriorating. It is very difficult to have the necessary trust that could justify a new examination of a new date.”