Leading French politician names cat Brexit because he’s reluctant to leave

Nathalie Loiseau is in charge of France's preparations for the UK leaving the EU

When it comes to naming your cat, the typical options of Whiskers, Tigger or Simba just won't cut it for France's minister for European affairs, who has opted to call her cat Brexit. Why? Nathalie Loiseau reckons her feline's personality is akin to the United Kingdom and its indecisiveness when it comes to actually exiting the European Union. Speaking to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, the government minister said: "He wakes me up every morning miaowing to death because he wants to go out. "And then when I open the door he stays in the middle, undecided, and then gives me evil looks when I put him out." As the person in charge of France's handling of Brexit, Loiseau has been vocal during negotiations, recently discussing how Theresa May's government could go about requesting an extension to the Article 50 deadline. “Why would be there be an extension without a reason?” she said. “We have been in discussions for quite a long time now. There needs to be something specific to justify an extension." Parliament rejected the withdrawal agreement the prime minister had agreed with the EU for the second time last week, voting in favour of an extension but not a second referendum. May met with the DUP on Monday and is said to be willing to put the deal before the House of Commons once again in the coming days.