ANALYSIS

BRUSSELS is playing a very dangerous game of chicken in the final days of the latest Brexit countdown.

Previous deadlines came and went because EU leaders, rightly, banked on Theresa May opting for delay rather than no-deal.

They are assuming this time round that Boris Johnson will be forced, albeit against his will, into doing the same by the “Surrender Act” that demands he asks for an extension.

That would open up the possibility of a general election that the EU believes could return a government that would hold another referendum or even just cancel Brexit altogether.

While they have a slither of hope that Britain’s departure will be abandoned, the Eurocrats and EU leaders that so fiercely object to a member leaving their club will refuse to make concessions.

That is why the Prime Minister laid out in no uncertain terms in talks with French president Emmanuel Macron yesterday that he will take Britain out of the EU on October 31 come what may.

It is not yet obvious how Mr Johnson will make that happen as he battles against legal constraints imposed by a Remainer parliament determined to thwart the vote to Leave.

But the declaration of intent is crystal clear and Brussels should take it seriously in the final days of these negotiations.

Downing Street is reasonably relaxed about the slew of negative briefings coming out of the EU about progress in the talks, as long as there is still a willingness to seriously engage behind the scenes.

The Prime Minister believes he has put forward a workable solution and made a huge compromise.

He has brought the Democratic Unionist Party on board as well as some of the most rebellious Brexiteers who opposed Mrs May’s deal.

Now it is the EU’s turn to compromise and shape the proposals into a position that all sides can get behind.

If Brussels rests all of its hopes on yet another delay it is risking the no-deal exit so many fear.