Most European governments believe that a second referendum will be necessary to break the Brexit deadlock

Germany and most other EU governments will back another delay to Brexit regardless of who becomes prime minister, a senior European source says.

Most European governments believe that the future Tory leader will be forced to use the extra time for a second referendum to break the deadlock in Westminster. The final deadline is expected to be as late as next spring.

“We hate it,” the source said, “but we are going to give them another extension. In the end no one wants to be seen as the one who pulls the plug.”

Despite statements from Boris Johnson and most other Tory leadership candidates that Britain will leave the EU on October 31 with or without a deal, at least 25 European governments are prepared