Germany’s government has floated the prospect of Britain remaining in the EU, suggesting the country might want to “think about it again” with a second referendum.

The country’s Europe minister Michael Roth described Brexit as a “tragedy” worthy of Shakespeare, suggesting that it would have “pushed the limits” of the great playwright’s imagination.

“The door to the EU always remains open – perhaps think about it again,” Mr Roth told German broadcaster ARD.

Asked to clarify whether he suggesting holding a second EU referendum, he replied: “Exactly.”

Westminster is currently in deadlock over how Britain leaves the EU, with no apparent majority in parliament for a single way forward.

As many as 750,000 people marched in London late last year to demand a second referendum to give them a Final Say on leaving.

“I have often said Shakespeare could not have written any better the tragedy we are now witnessing in Britain,” Mr Roth told the broadcaster.

“I am not so sure now, because Shakespeare would have pushed up against the limits of his imagination.

“I expect firstly that the Britons say now what they want. They have in the past weeks told us what they don’t want. Now we need a clear signal. We are ready for negotiations,” he added.

The intervention follows a letter last week signed by German cultural, sporting and political figures urging the UK to stay. Signatories to that letter included Angela Merkel’s protege and frontrunner to be the country’s next chancellor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

More than 100 MEPs from practically every EU country also signed a letter, published in The Independent, suggesting the UK think again about its decision.

Despite the political chaos engulfing the UK, polls suggest there has been no major shift in voting intention – with most surveys show showing a fairly narrow Remain lead.

The prospect of how a second referendum could be delivered is another matter: with Labour saying the option is still on the table once others are exhausted, but the government set against the idea. Current surveys of MPs in the Commons suggest the arithmetic in parliament may not be favourable to one even if Labour backs it, however.

Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Show all 30 1 /30 Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independent's Final Say campaign and People's Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa May's Brexit deal The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street L to R: Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna, Lara Anne Spirit from People's Vote, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Holly Baxter, Co-Editor Independent Voices and Christina Koci-Edwards from People's Vote hand in a petition to Downing Street The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Front row L to R: Christina Koci-Edwards from People's Vote, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna, Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Vince Cable Lib Dem MP for Twickenham, Lara Anne Spirit from People's Vote and Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street The Independent's editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and People's Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street A supporter of the second referendum helps Vince Cable Lib Dem MP for Twickenham out of the rain during a protest The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street L to R: Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna and Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney hand in petitions to Downing Street. Today the IndependentÕs Final Say campaign and PeopleÕs Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa MayÕs Brexit deal. The IndependentÕs editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and PeopleÕs Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 PeopleÕs Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. © Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street L to R: Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna, Lara Anne Spirit from People's Vote, Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney and Christina Koci-Edwards from People's Vote on their way to hand in a petition to Downing Street The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney and Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna hand in the petition to Downing Street The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street L to R: Christina Koci-Edwards from PeopleÕs Vote, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna ,Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Holly Baxter, Co-Editor Independent Voices and Lara Anne Spirit from PeopleÕs Vote. Today the IndependentÕs Final Say campaign and PeopleÕs Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa MayÕs Brexit deal. The IndependentÕs editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and PeopleÕs Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 PeopleÕs Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. © Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Front row L to R: Christina Koci-Edwards from PeopleÕs Vote, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna, Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent. Lara Anne Spirit from PeopleÕs Vote, , J and on their way to hand in a petition to Downing Street. Today the IndependentÕs Final Say campaign and PeopleÕs Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa MayÕs Brexit deal. The IndependentÕs editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and PeopleÕs Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 PeopleÕs Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. © Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna and Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney hand in petitions to Downing Street The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Front row L to R: Christina Koci-Edwards from PeopleÕs Vote, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna, Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Vince Cable Lib Dem MP for Twickenham, Lara Anne Spirit from PeopleÕs Vote and Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney. Lara Anne Spirit from PeopleÕs Vote, , J and on their way to hand in a petition to Downing Street. Today the IndependentÕs Final Say campaign and PeopleÕs Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa MayÕs Brexit deal. The IndependentÕs editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and PeopleÕs Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 PeopleÕs Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. © Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street L to R: Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna, Lara Anne Spirit from PeopleÕs Vote, Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney and Christina Koci-Edwards from PeopleÕs Vote on their way to hand in a petition to Downing Street. Today the IndependentÕs Final Say campaign and PeopleÕs Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa MayÕs Brexit deal. The IndependentÕs editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and PeopleÕs Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 PeopleÕs Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. © Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street L to R: Christina Koci-Edwards from PeopleÕs Vote, Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna ,Christian Broughton, Editor, The Independent, Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Holly Baxter, Co-Editor Independent Voices and Lara Anne Spirit from PeopleÕs Vote. Today the IndependentÕs Final Say campaign and PeopleÕs Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa MayÕs Brexit deal. The IndependentÕs editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and PeopleÕs Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 PeopleÕs Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. © Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young Final Say petition delivered to Downing Street Today the Independentâ€™s Final Say campaign and Peopleâ€™s Vote delivered to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa Mayâ€™s Brexit deal. The Independentâ€™s editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and Peopleâ€™s Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna MP delivered 300,000 Peopleâ€™s Vote signatures to Downing Street on Monday December 3 at midday. Â© Lucy Young 2018 07799118984 lucyyounguk@gmail.com www.lucyyoungphotos.co.uk Lucy Young The Independent/Lucy Young

A number of practical difficulties to delivering a referendum also remain, however – such as what the question would be, and how long one would take to organise.