Emmanuel Macron blocked a European Union decision on whether to grant a Brexit extension beyond the October 31 deadline on Friday, heaping pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to agree to a general election.

"France considers that it is up to the British to clarify the situation and an extension is not a given," a source close to Mr Macron said, "pressure must be maintained."

Paris vetoed the decision because it refuses to support a delay, which must be a unanimous EU27 decision, until there is clarity over whether an election will be held or not.

The senior French aide said that any extension must be "justified and proportionate" . "However we have seen nothing of the sort so far," the source said.

EU ambassadors set a deadline of Tuesday at the latest for the extension decision, which would fall after MPs are expected to vote on whether to hold a general election on December 12. EU leaders are due to meet in Brussels for a summit on the proposed date of the election.

Mr Macron’s uncompromising stance infuriated many of the other EU governments, who were ready to grant a three month extension to 31 January 2020 on Friday.

Press briefings by Paris threatening a no deal don’t make it any easier to find a solution among the EU27. They are dividing and not uniting,” one EU diplomat said.