The Times reports France/other "hardline" countries pushing for no deal Brexit, unless UK makes major concessions in coming days. Hardliners say EU should declare talks over; then watch UK suffer pain of short no-deal period before chastened UK returns to talks, cap in hand.

Could be just last-minute tactic. But if it's more than that, it is a significant miscalculation by EU. UK will not return cap in hand. More likely to conclude that if liberal country, free market, free trade economy, backing net zero, with close military/security ties ...

... to Europe can only get a "punishment beating" deal with EU then the UK will proceed with no deal and make the best of it, whatever the short-term pain. Instead of being chastened, UK likely to be defiant. And EU/UK relations would be in the freezer for years. Not good.