I think the EU Council will have to ask themselves the question: Have things moved on since we last granted an extension?

The answer is obviously subjective - Boris is hardly an improvement on Theresa - but at least the UK government is showing an urgency to get this matter resolved.

My own view is that Boris is desperate to Brexit on 31st. October because he senses the initiative slipping away from Brexiteers and if he doesn't achieve Brexit then he is opening the door to a second referendum and a reversal of the first.

So the very act of extension could make Remain a good bit more likely, and since this is still the ideal outcome from an EU Council perspective they will not wish to spurn the opportunity especially as it will really annoy the Brexiteers.

But the UK Parliament has to find a way to enforce its will first...

Index of Frank's Diaries

Based on their performance up to that point, having a 10-day session would have been a complete waste of time. So they interpreted his comment to mean they should have a holiday.