Britain should only get a Brexit extension if it agrees to hold a new referendum or general election, according to leading Brussels lawmaker.
David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, suggested the conditions in Brussels on Wednesday night after Tuesday talks with John Bercow in London.
Speaking in the parliament, Mr Sassoli said: "I had a fruitful discussion with Speaker Bercow in which I set out my view that any request for an extension should allow the British people to give their views in a referendum or an election."
READ MORE: Map shows how Brexit affects all of Scotland
Mr Sassoil, who is a centre-left Italian, was reflecting growing frustration on the continent and in Ireland over the UK's inability to settle Brexit.
Amélie de Montchalin, France's Europe minister, last night appeared to back the condition. "If there are new elections or a referendum, if there is a political shift leading us to believe we could have a different dialogue from the one we have today, then an extension can be discussed," she said, according to The Daily Telegraph.
European leaders believe Boris Johnson has set out a series of unworkable proposals, including on Northern Ireland. Talks on a deal will end tomorrow.
In the UK politics remains focused on whether the prime minister will try to leave the EU without a deal, despite parliament passing a law preventing him from doing so. MPs have also thwarted his attempts to call a general election and have voted down proposals for a second referendum on Brexit.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government was left in the dark over new Brexit plans this week, according to Cabinet Secretary Mike Russell.
Responding to a question from fellow SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing on Wednesday, Mr Russell said there had been "no correspondence" between the UK and Scottish governments on the new proposals.
Mr Russell said: "Whilst EU exit was discussed at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMCEN) in London on September 12, we received no correspondence from the UK Government on their proposals for a new Brexit agreement ahead of the announcement from the Prime Minister.
"I spoke with the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU shortly after the publication at his request.
"As has been the case throughout these negotiations, the Scottish Government has not been treated as a trusted partner.
"Indeed we've kept abreast of developments through media reports.
"It's disappointing and frustrating that again devolved administrations have had no meaningful opportunity to influence."
READ MORE: Varadkar warns Johnson: Brexit deal by next week 'very difficult'
In response to another question from Ms Ewing about the reported interactions between the Prime Minister and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Russell said: "I think there is a general view that whatever is taking place in 10 Downing Street, it is so outside the norms for the Prime Minister, or indeed for any civilised government, that we do wonder what will come next.
"We don't know where the Prime Minister is going, we don't know where this is going, but the damage it is doing is immense."
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