Why do you get the feeling that Cummings strategy is working? Nobody expected Boris to get a deal, even try for one, but all seemingly convinced the Benn Act will stop a 'no deal', when in reality it only stops the 'no deal' on the 31st Oct. not at the end of any extension that may or may not be granted, or may or may not be accepted.
In the event, Boris did however, despite all predictions manage to land an agreement over a new (or nearly new) WDA with the EU. In the process though he throws the DUP under a bus, in the sure and certain knowledge that they will kick up a fuss and even more than that, they will to punish him. Punish him they do by voting against him twice, helping to delay the Bill, hoping he will re-think things... well maybe!
The EU, not surprisingly are getting sick to the back teeth of the 'Grand Old Duke of York' act and whilst they will want to go the extra mile to avoid a 'no deal' they will want to see, in granting any extension, an actual end to it all. The problem is what is a further extension for?
A second referendum gets us nowhere unless millions of people change their mind (either way) which now seems completely unlikely and the opposition unite completely, which they have so far not been able to do. Even a GE, may solve nothing, if it is a hung parliament, or even more likely an unholy alliance between Tories and the Brexit party, might occur, to take up the deal; if the their numbers are big enough, they could take the 'No deal' option after all. In the extreme, a massive shift in the Lib-Dem vote might enable them to move towards a revoke solution, but its highly unlikely, since they would still face, Tory/Brexit Party and disillusioned Labour MPs and have no guarantee of uniting what's left of the opposition.
So you can understand why Macron is reputedly saying "enough is enough" (or the equivalent in French), advise the EU takes the hit, knowing or at least believing in will be worse for the UK and get on with the rest of the EU pressing business.