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The EU’s chief Brexit co-ordinator has backed warnings from France that a request for another delay to Brexit will be refused.

Guy Verhofstadt said it would be 'unacceptable' for Brussels to push back the UK's departure date from the European Union in the current circumstances.

France’s foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said on Sunday that as things stand, a delay beyond the October 31 deadline would not be granted.

In a series of tweets, Mr Verhofstadt backed the decision not to grant another delay.

“Foreign Minister Le Drian is right: yet another extension for Brexit is unacceptable, unless the deadlock in London is broken," he wrote.

“Let it be a 2nd ref., new elections, a revocation of art. 50 or the approval of the deal, but not today’s helpless status quo.

“Whatever Brexit we get, 1 thing must be secured no matter what: the citizens’ rights on both sides of the channel.

“@Europarl_EN demands the UK to approve ‘settled status’ automatically for ALL Europeans. The burden of proof to reverse must be with the Home Office, not the citizens.”

He concluded: “People can never be bargaining chips in political negotiations.”

His comments come as Mr Le Drian was asked by Europe 1 radio if a Brexit delay was possible and he responded that it was not under the current conditions.

"We are not going to do [extend] this every three months," he added. "The British must tell us what they want."

He described the current situation as "very worrying".

This week, parliament passed a law aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit, which would force Boris Johnson to seek an extension.

The Prime Minister has said he would not ask for a delay in any circumstances, but Mr Le Drian's comments suggest his request would be denied even if he was forced to by law.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Mr Johnson is planning to ignore the legislation and instead go to the EU summit next month and seek a new deal.

Mr Johnson has said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than ask the EU for an extension beyond Halloween.

The Conservative Party leader buttoned down on his position further on the weekend, telling The Mail On Sunday: "I refuse to accept (Jeremy) Corbyn's pointless delay."

His stance has led to speculation that more front bench ministers could walk out on the Government.

Amber Rudd sensationally quit the Cabinet and the Tory Party on Saturday, citing concerns over Mr Johnson's approach to the Brexit negotiations.

She told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that "not enough work is going into actually getting a deal".

The former work and pension secretary's resignation set off alarm bells that more ministers could follow.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland declared on Twitter that "speculation about my future is wide of the mark".

The Sunday Times reported that the principle plan for Mr Johnson and his chief strategist Dominic Cummings is to force an explosive showdown at the Supreme Court that could even see him risk a jail sentence to deliver on his pledge to leave the EU by October 31.

Mr Buckland said: "I fully support the Prime Minister and will continue to serve in his Cabinet.

"We have spoken over the past 24 hours regarding the importance of the Rule of Law, which I as Lord Chancellor have taken an oath to uphold."

His predecessor David Gauke MP, who had the Tory whip withdrawn by the PM for voting with the Opposition last week, said the current "uncertainty" surrounding whether Mr Johnson will defy the will of Parliament was "damaging to the rule of law".

The former Cabinet minister tweeted: "In the end, I don't expect any prime minister to defy the law.

"But the uncertainty about the Government's intentions is, in itself, damaging to the Rule of Law.

"Ministers should be clear and unambiguous - the Government will abide by the law."