Michel Barnier, the European Union’s Chief Brexit negotiator, never tires of warning Britain that “the clock is ticking” but could the UK ever convince the EU to extend the Article 50 deadline beyond 29 March 2019?

Brussels sources have told The Telegraph that it is theoretically possible but would be very difficult. They revealed that an extension request, were it ever to be made by Theresa May, would only be accepted to accommodate a second Brexit referendum or a general election

There are just 12 weeks before the October European Council summit where the EU hopes to finalise the Brexit withdrawal agreement. That would allow five months for EU national governments, including Britain, and the European Parliament to ratify the deal before Brexit Day.

However, with the Conservative party locked in a bitter and public civil war and no solution in sight for the bedevilled issue of the Irish border, there are fears that time will simply run out and Britain will crash out of the bloc without a deal.

Some British politicians claim that no deal is nothing to be afraid of but the UK government and the EU are both desperate to avoid a situation that would have serious economic consequences for both sides.