Brexit: Mark Francois slams ‘ludicrous’ Barnier for extension demands

Mark Francois was scathing in his assessment of Nicola Sturgeon's interventions in Brexit, saying that the SNP "will never accept that we voted to leave". The Scottish First Minister today wrote to Boris Johnson alongside the First Minister of Wales to request an extension to the Brexit transition period. Mr Francois also ridiculed Mr Barnier for bowing under pressure in the past, and turned the Frenchman own phrase on him, saying "the clock is ticking". The Tory MP said that agreeing a "comprehensive free trade agreement" still remained possible - but reiterated that it had to be completed this year. He explained: "The Government has made it absolutely plain there will be no extension of the transition period, and therefore we have until the end of December to come up with an agreement. "I think we can do that because we managed to get them to change the withdrawal agreement and drop the backstop in three months, even though Barnier swore he would never do either of those things. "They have blinked once and I think if we hold our nerve, they will blink again."