Senior MEP Guy Verhofstadt (pictured last week in Brussels) compared hard Brexiteers to 18th Century French revolutionaries who lost their heads at the guillotine today

A senior MEP compared hard Brexiteers to 18th Century French revolutionaries who lost their heads at the guillotine today.

Guy Verhofstadt's latest incendiary intervention on the Brexit debate came as he met with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.

Mr Verhofstadt - the European Parliament's representative in the Brexit talks - said Boris Johnson was similar to flamboyant and venal revolutionary leader Georges Danton, while Michael Gove was like counterrevolutionary Jacques Pierre Brissot.

He compared Jacob Rees-Mogg to the uncompromising revolutionary purist Maximilien Robespierre.

All three men were executed during the French Revolution.

Mr Verhofstadt told reporters at the European Parliament: 'We must remember that the efforts of these men were not appreciated by the common man they claimed to represent.

'Because they all ended under the guillotine.'

Following his meeting with Mr Barclay and Theresa May's deputy David Lidington today, Mr Verhofstadt warned there was not yet a proposal to break the deadlock.

He said: 'Iask myself what are these negotiations at a ''crucial state'' raised in the House of Commons?

'The way forward is cross-party, not kicking the can towards a disastrous no deal.'

Following his meeting with Mr Barclay and Theresa May's deputy David Lidington today, Mr Verhofstadt warned there was not yet a proposal to break the deadlock

Guy Verhofstadt's latest incendiary intervention on the Brexit debate came as he met with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay (pictured last week in Downing Street)

The interventions came as Mrs May set up a 'high noon' on Brexit in two weeks - with Remainer ministers threatening to join a revolt.

The PM urged MPs to 'hold their nerve' as she appealed for 'a little more time' to get concessions on the Irish border backstop in bitter Commons clashes.

She tried to quell a mounting rebellion by Remainers by promising them another chance to influence the Brexit process by the end of the month if her renegotiation is not complete.

But she also fuelled anger that she is 'running down the clock' towards March 29 by refusing to give a firm date by which a final vote on her deal will be held.

Pro-EU MPs warned their patience is running out - with sources telling MailOnline that the next round of votes on February 27 will be 'high noon'. More than a dozen ministers - including some Cabinet members - are ready to resign if that is what it takes to stop the UK crashing out of the bloc.

There is also little sign that the premier's battle to secure changes to the backstop - the insurance policy to avoid a hard border - is making progress.

EU chief negotiator Mr Barnier emerged from a dinner with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay in Brussels last night to insist the Withdrawal Agreement will not be renegotiated.