Michel Barnier, the European Union’s Chief Brexit negotiator, never tires of warning Britain that “the clock is ticking” but could the UK ever convince the EU to extend the Article 50 deadline beyond 29 March 2019?

Brussels sources have told The Telegraph that it is theoretically possible but would be very difficult. They revealed that an extension request, were it ever to be made by Theresa May, would only be accepted to accommodate a second Brexit referendum or a general election

There are just 12 weeks before the October European Council summit where the EU hopes to finalise the Brexit withdrawal agreement. That would allow five months for EU national governments, including Britain, and the…