Fred99: I understand that polls in some EU countries are showing increasing support for turfing the UK out of the EU.
I'm starting to think that perhaps they're right - while Brexit will cause some economic harm to the EU, perhaps it's a better option than having a nation with a succession of minority governments, with a vocal minority of hard right and xenophobes indefinitely influencing policy in the union.
It seems highly unlikely that a general election in the UK will result in a majority government or a stable coalition. FPP will result in opposing minor parties (Brexit and Lib Dems) being under-represented, the strength of the SNP, and NI polls showing a (small) majority supporting unification of Ireland, the EU should deny any possibility of extension or renegotiation, sit back and see what happens.

If the EU refused an extension then it just needs Parliament to revoke article 50 and the UK would stay in, although saying that I don't think even Labour would take that step without another referendum in favour.

The last poll I heard about had the Tories leading by 10 points which would give them a workable majority.