Emmanuel Macron and France hang tough as Brexit date looms

“All through the Brexit process they [the French] have been the hardest of the hard, and on this issue of the extension they are playing the hardest to get,” said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform. “They have got harder on this in the last few weeks because of fears about the European election, and the idea that the Brexit business will pollute the domestic campaign.” Mr Grant said Mr Macron had articulated a vision for the future of Europe, and a long extension would allow the British to remain at the EU table with the chance to interfere in policymaking. “He’s particularly concerned that his vision will be messed up by the British ‘bovver boys’”.