Theresa May has put the growing feud between Downing Street and European leaders at the heart of the general election by accusing “Brussels bureaucrats” of trying to interfere in the campaign.

The Prime Minister was accused of “poisoning the well” of Brexit talks after getting the election formally under way with a remarkable attack on the EU outside Number 10.

Prime Minister Theresa May. Picture: Getty Images

In some of the most hostile rhetoric on Europe by a sitting UK prime minister, Mrs May suggested unnamed EU figures were trying to sabotage Brexit by misrepresenting Britain’s position in damaging leaks to European media.

Critics claimed the Prime Minister had “gone full Donald Trump” and was feeding the row to win votes at the general election on 8 June.

The remarks follow a turbulent four days in which leaks about a meeting with EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker put Downing Street on the defensive over its Brexit strategy.

Mrs May initially dismissed as “Brussels gossip” reports that Mr Juncker was increasingly pessimistic about reaching a Brexit agreement.

Tensions were raised further with reports yesterday that the “divorce settlement” sought by the EU had almost doubled to €100 billion (£85bn), with the EU chief negotiator warning of “explosive” consequences if the UK tried to avoid “clearing its accounts”.

At a campaign event yesterday morning, Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK would not be “negotiating with a megaphone”.

But within hours, following a meeting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace to put the official seal on the dissolution of parliament, Mrs May accused the EU of trying to crash Brexit negotiations and interfere in the UK general election.

She said: “In the last few days, we have seen just how tough these talks are likely to be.

“Britain’s negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press. The European Commission’s negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.

“All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election.”

The Prime Minister said she had made clear that “Britain means no harm to our friends and allies on the continent” despite reaffirming her belief that “no deal is better for Britain than a bad deal”.

She added: “But the events of the last few days have shown that – however reasonable the positions of Europe’s other leaders – there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed. Who do not want Britain to prosper.”

The remarks also represented a shift in tone on the risks involved in Brexit, with the Prime Minister acknowledging that “the consequences will be serious” if the UK fails to secure the right exit terms from the EU.

She said prosperity and security of future generations would be damaged “if we let the bureaucrats of Brussels run over us”, and claimed only she could provide the leadership needed to get the right deal.

At a press conference in Brussels, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said it was an “illusion” to think Brexit would be quick or painless.

READ MORE: Theresa May’s Brexit dinner leak: what does it tell us?

Setting out the EU Commission’s negotiating guidelines for the first phase of talks, Mr Barnier refused to confirm the size of payment he was seeking, and insisted the UK was not being punished.

But he said: “Some have created the illusion that Brexit would have no material impact or that negotiations can be concluded quickly and painlessly. This is not the case.”

Mr Davis insisted that “we will not be paying €100bn” and dismissed as “laughable” reports that Mrs May would be barred from negotiating with other European heads of government and would instead have to go through Mr Barnier.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused the Prime Minister of “poisoning the well” of Brexit talks and trying to turn the EU into a “bogeyman” in order to win votes.

“It is vital for jobs and living standards that the UK gets the best possible deal from Brexit. But for all the bravado, the fact is that the UK government’s leverage in these negotiations is extremely limited.

“So for Theresa May, driven by entirely narrow, partisan motives, to deliberately seek to poison the well will make the negotiating task ahead even harder.

“This is an irresponsible, gratuitous attack on our European neighbours, which is aimed at diverting attention from the Tories’ dismal record on health, the economy, austerity and welfare by painting the EU as a bogeyman.

“Insulting our neighbours simply makes the Brexit mountain much harder to climb, but unfortunately it is par for the course from Theresa May.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Prime Minister was “playing party games with Brexit” to boost the Tories in next month’s election.

He said: “By winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the Prime Minister wants to wrap the Conservative party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her government’s economic failure and rundown of our public services.”

Scottish Labour Europe spokesperson Lewis Macdonald MSP said: “Theresa May has gone full Donald Trump with this bizarre intervention. This Tory government is clearly woefully under-prepared for the difficult and complicated negotiations ahead – and insulting Europe’s political leaders is unlikely to make them any more amenable to giving the UK a good deal.”

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “We need to judge the Prime Minister on her record and a matter of days after her personal intervention the Brexit bill rocketed from €50bn to €100bn. She is the person behind the ‘go home’ vans, blocking child refugees and the rape clause. Her vision of the world is cold and uncaring.”

READ MORE: Reject SNP ‘separatists’ and vote Tory, urges Theresa May</s>(BRUSSELS) — Prime Minister Theresa May has hit back at reports that European Union officials consider Britain ill-prepared for Brexit talks, accusing EU officials of trying to influence the outcome of Britain's national election.

May says "there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper."

Speaking after meeting Queen Elizabeth II to officially start the election campaign, May said the EU's negotiating stance had hardened and some European officials had made "threats" against Britain.

She said these were "deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on June 8."</s>Theresa May has accused the European Union of seeking to influence the result of the General Election in an unprecedented attack.

The Prime Minister has claimed that the European Commission's position had hardened over the last few weeks and that officials do not want Britain to "prosper."

She also suggested that Britain's negotiating position has been misrepresented in the European press.</s>British Prime Minister Theresa May overnight accused European Union officials of trying to influence the UK elections, ratcheting up tensions with Brussels over her country's departure from the bloc.

Just hours after the EU unveiled its plan for Brexit talks, which delays discussion on issues like trade that are so dear to Britain, Mrs May said that "the European Commission's negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials."

"All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on 8 June," she told reporters outside 10 Downing Street, in a speech aimed at rallying support for her Conservative Party ahead of next month's polls.

Mrs May's comments follow leaked comments in the British and European press suggesting the EU thinks Britain is not facing reality about the conditions of its EU exit and the complexity of the negotiations ahead.

"The events of the last few days have shown that, whatever our wishes, and however reasonable the positions of Europe's other leaders, there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed," she said.

The head of the EU's executive Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, expressed regret that details of his private dinner with Mrs May last week had made the news.

A German news report said that Mr Juncker left the meeting saying he was "10 times more skeptical than I was before" that negotiations will succeed.</s>(BRUSSELS) — Prime Minister Theresa May has hit back at reports that European Union officials consider Britain ill-prepared for Brexit talks, accusing EU officials of trying to influence the outcome of Britain's national election.

May says "there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper."

Speaking after meeting Queen Elizabeth II to officially start the election campaign, May said the EU's negotiating stance had hardened and some European officials had made "threats" against Britain. She said these were "deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on June 8."

Earlier, the European Union's Brexit negotiator said Britain must settle the financial debts it owes the bloc before talks on its future relations with its European partners can begin.

Michel Barnier said Wednesday that "we have to settle the account, not more not less." Unveiling details of his negotiating scope for the talks, Barnier insisted that the bill "is not a punishment" but simply the agreed contribution to the EU budget for the next few years.

A draft of the mandate outlining how the union will negotiate Britain's departure limits Barnier's remit to things like safeguards for E.U. citizens in Britain and London's financial obligations.</s>Prime Minister Theresa May has launched a stinging attack on Brussels bureaucrats and politicians in a statement to mark the dissolution of parliament.

Speaking in Downing Street after meeting the Queen earlier today, May confirmed that the 2015 parliament had now come to an end.

"Whoever wins on the 8 June will face an overriding task to get the best possible deal for this UK from Brexit," May said.

However, she warned: "In the last few days we have seen just how tough these talks are likely to be."

Read More: Theresa May calls for early General Election

May added that the UK had been "misrepresented" in European newspapers, saying that the negotiating position of the European Commission had "hardened" and that Britain had been "threatened" by European politicians and officials.

"All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the General Election that will take place on 8 June," she said.

"We continue to believe that no deal is better for Britain than a bad deal. But we want a deal. We want a deep and special partnership with the European Union. And we want the EU to succeed."

May went on to appeal to the voters to back her in the election, seeking to contrast herself with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and warning that "if we don't get this right the consequences will be serious". She said that failure to do so would "let the bureaucrats if Brussels run over us".

May made the shock decision to call an early election in the middle of April, with MPs later voting overwhelmingly in favour of the plan.

Read More: ITV to hold party leader debate, but guess who isn't taking part?

It comes after the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier earlier today warned that Brexit talks would not be "quick and painless".

Speaking this morning, Barnier insisted that reaching a deal would not represent a "punishment" but a "settling of accounts".

Barnier declined to comment on specific numbers for a so-called divorce bill, insisting instead that the sum "will develop", adding that failure to reach agreement could have "explosive" consequences for EU programmes. Brexit secretary David Davis has already rejected a potential €100bn figure.</s>Theresa May has accused European politicians and officials of seeking to influence the result of the UK's General Election as the war of words over Brexit intensified.

The Prime Minister used a Downing Street statement to claim that the UK's position had been misrepresented and the European Commission's position had hardened.

It follows reports that talks with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker ended in disaster.

A German newspaper said the pair clashed over Mrs May's desire to make Brexit "a success" and whether agreement could be reached about rights of UK and EU nationals, when they had dinner in Downing Street last week.

Mrs May said: " Whoever wins on 8 June will face one overriding task: to get the best possible deal for this United Kingdom from Brexit.

"And in the last few days, we have seen just how tough these talks are likely to be.

"Britain’s negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press.

"Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.

"All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on 8 June."

And she said some EU leaders wanted the UK's negotiations over Brexit to fail.

"We want a deal. We want a deep and special partnership with the European Union. And we want the EU to succeed.

"But the events of the last few days have shown that - whatever our wishes, and however reasonable the positions of Europe’s other leaders - there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed.

"Who do not want Britain to prosper."

Theresa May said this showed why the UK needed her to carry on as a "strong" Prime Minister rather than electing Jeremy Corbyn.</s>Theresa May accuses EU of trying to affect UK election

Theresa May has accused European politicians of making “threats” against Britain to try to influence the general election result.

The PM launched a stinging attack on the “bureaucrats of Brussels” in a speech outside 10 Downing Street after meeting the Queen.

She said some in Brussels wanted Brexit talks to fail.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said she was “playing party games with Brexit” to try to win the general election.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was “irresponsible” of her to “poison” the atmosphere with the EU.

A senior EU source told the BBC the PM’s suggestion that officials were trying to affect the election result was “pure fantasy”.

Parliament was dissolved at midnight, meaning the election is formally under way, and the PM made her speech after visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

She said events of the past few days had shown “just how tough” Brexit talks are likely to be.

“Britain’s negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press,” she said, in a reference to a German newspaper’s account of her dinner with the EU Commission chief.

“The European Commission’s negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.

“All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on 8 June.”

Mrs May said she wanted to reach a Brexit deal, and for the EU to succeed: “But the events of the last few days have shown that – whatever our wishes, and however reasonable the positions of Europe’s other leaders – there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed.”

The PM also warned of “serious” consequences if the Brexit talks failed, which would be felt by “ordinary, working people across the country”.

“If we don’t get the negotiation right, your economic security and prosperity will be put at risk and the opportunities you seek for your families will simply not happen.

“If we do not stand up and get this negotiation right we risk the secure and well-paid jobs we want for our children and our children’s children too.

“If we don’t get the negotiation right, if we let the bureaucrats of Brussels run over us, we will lose the chance to build a fairer society with real opportunity for all.”

She was criticised by Ms Sturgeon, who tweeted: “UK needs best possible Brexit deal and has limited leverage, so for PM to poison atmosphere for partisan reasons is deeply irresponsible…. Having called election for reasons of party not national interest, PM now seems intent on fighting campaign in same way.”

Mr Corbyn added: “By winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the prime minister wants to wrap the Conservative party in the union jack and distract attention from her government’s economic failure and rundown of our public services.

“But Brexit is too important to be used as a political game in this election.”

Lib Dem Nick Clegg attacked her “desperate, bizarre statement”, and UKIP’s Patrick O’Flynn said millions of his party’s voters remained worried the UK would leave the EU “with the worst possible terms”.

Mrs May’s statement came during a day in which the UK’s Brexit secretary and the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier had appeared at odds over the size of the “Brexit bill” the UK would owe when it left the European Union.

The Financial Times claimed the likely bill had risen sharply from 60bn to 100bn euros, basing its calculations on new data from across Europe.

Mr Barnier said there was no agreed figure but the UK and EU had entered into “mutual commitments” which must be honoured.

Mr Davis said the UK would pay what was legally due, in line with its rights and obligations, but “not just what the EU wants”.

On Tuesday, Mrs May told the BBC she would be a “bloody difficult woman” towards Mr Juncker during Brexit talks.

Asked about her comment, Mr Juncker’s chief of staff Martin Selmayr said: “President Juncker said today that she is an impressive woman and that she is a very impressive negotiator.”

He added: “Brexit will never become a success, of course, because it is a sad and sorry event. But as I have set out, it can be managed in a professional and pragmatic way.”

The dissolution of Parliament means there are no MPs – only candidates – until polling day.

However, government ministers retain their roles and continue their work.

MPs are allowed access to Parliament for just a few days in order to remove papers from their offices, but facilities provided by the House of Commons are no longer available to them. It was the shortest Parliament since 1974.</s>Theresa May has accused European politicians and officials of seeking to influence the result of the UK's General Election as the war of words over Brexit intensified.

The Prime Minister used a Downing Street statement to claim that the UK's position had been misrepresented and the European Commission's position had hardened.

"The events of the last few days have shown that whatever our wishes and however reasonable the positions of Europe's other leaders, there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper," she said.

In a statement after meeting the Queen to mark the dissolution of Parliament, Mrs May said the victor of the June 8 election would face "one overriding task", getting the "best possible deal" for the UK.

"In the last few days we have seen just how tough these talks are likely to be," she said.

"Britain's negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press. The European Commission's negotiating stance has hardened.

"Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.

"All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the General Election that will take place on June 8."

Mrs May warned of "serious consequences" if Brexit negotiations went wrong.

She said: "If we do not get this right, the consequences will be serious and they will be felt by ordinary working people across the country.

"This Brexit negotiation is central to everything.

"If we don't get the negotiation right, your economic security and prosperity will be put at risk and the opportunities you seek for your families will simply not happen.

"If we do not stand up and get this negotiation right we risk the secure and well-paid jobs we want for our children and our children's children too.

"If we don't get the negotiation right, if we let the bureaucrats of Brussels run over us, we will lose the chance to build a fairer society with real opportunity for all."

Mrs May said voters faced a "very simple" choice on June 8 between her and Jeremy Corbyn.

"With me you will get strong and stable leadership and an approach to Brexit that locks in economic growth, jobs for our children and strong finances for the NHS and the country's schools," she said.

"Or you will get Jeremy Corbyn with a hung parliament and a coalition of chaos.

"Britain will simply not get the right Brexit deal if we have the drift and division of a hung parliament.

"So, with Jeremy Corbyn negotiating Brexit, we will all pay a high price."

Mrs May said that the election was not only about Brexit, but also about building a stronger and fairer economy and protecting the UK against attacks from extremists and efforts by separatists to tear it apart.

"As we face this critical time for our country - five years that will determine the course of the United Kingdom for generations to come - we must do so together, with a unity of purpose to make a success of Brexit and to build a stronger, more secure country too," she said.

Mrs May said she would have a "clear message" in the election campaign.

"If like me you believe in Britain, if like me you want our country to succeed, if like me you believe in putting division behind us, in looking to the future and getting on with the job of building the stronger, more secure country that we need, then fix your sights on the future and in this unique and crucial election for our country, give me your backing to lead Britain.

"Give me your backing to speak for Britain, give me your backing to fight for Britain, give me your backing to deliver for Britain a stronger Britain where economic progress is secured and prosperity and opportunity is shared by all.

"A Britain that works not just for the privileged few but for every single one of us."

Mrs May said she had made clear to Brussels in her letter formally starting the Brexit process that "in leaving the European Union, Britain means no harm to our friends and allies on the continent".

"We continue to believe that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal, but we want a deal," she said.

"We want a deep and special partnership with the EU and we want the EU to succeed."

Leaks from a Downing Street dinner in which Mrs May hosted European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier have revealed the tensions between the two sides.

Mr Juncker reportedly left saying he was "10 times more sceptical" about the prospect of a deal.

Mrs May said the events of recent days showed "now more than ever we need to be led by a prime minister and a government that is strong and stable".

"Because making Brexit a success is central to our national interest and central to your own security and prosperity," she told voters.

"If we do not get this right, the consequences will be serious."

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon criticised Mrs May's speech on Twitter, saying: "UK needs best possible Brexit deal and has limited leverage, so for PM to poison atmosphere for partisan reasons is deeply irresponsible.

"Having called election for reasons of party not national interest, PM now seems intent on fighting campaign in same way.

"Making a bogeyman of EU is all about distracting attention from Tories' wider record - while PM continues to hide from voters."

Labour's Chuka Umunna, a leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign, accused Mrs May of "straightforward, crude electioneering".

He added: "This is straight out of the Donald Trump playbook - not what we expect from a British Prime Minister."

Scottish Labour's Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald MSP said: "Theresa May has gone full Donald Trump with this bizarre intervention.

"This Tory government is clearly woefully under-prepared for the difficult and complicated negotiations ahead - and insulting Europe's political leaders is unlikely to make them any more amenable to giving the UK a good deal.

"The Tories' handling of Brexit has so far been a disaster.

"Labour would rip up Theresa May's Brexit white paper and put protecting workers' rights and having access to the single market at the heart of negotiations."

Labour leader Mr Corbyn said: "Theresa May is playing party games with Brexit in the hope of winning advantage for the Tories in the General Election.

"By winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the Prime Minister wants to wrap the Conservative Party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her Government's economic failure and run-down of our public services.

"But Brexit is too important to be used as a political game in this election.

"These are vital negotiations for every person in Britain and for the future of our country.

"But Theresa May is putting party interest ahead of the national interest.

"The Prime Minister is right that there are those in Brussels who don't want a deal.

"But that is also true of leading figures in the Tory party, who want to use Brexit to turn Britain into a low-wage tax haven.

"The Prime Minister says that no deal would lead to a different economic model for Britain.

"In plain terms, that means wiping out employment rights and consumer protections and giving still more tax breaks to the rich and big corporations.

"That's the threat and the risk that comes from this Tory Government.

"Only Labour can be trusted to negotiate a Brexit deal that puts jobs and living standards first.

"Labour will negotiate a Brexit for the many, not the few."

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond said: "For the umpteenth time Theresa May is parroting the same line in this election.

"She needs a reminder that this is a democratic contest between people who disagree with her, not something to be disfigured by the language of Lynton Crosby.

"This is the same dog whistle playbook which rebounded so spectacularly in the contest for a London mayor when people saw through the attempt to smear opponents.

"Not only will the Scottish people see through it, they will be outraged that a Prime Minister is demeaning herself and the campaign by reciting Crosby's lines."

Mr Juncker's chief of staff Martin Selmayr indicated that the Commission president would welcome a result from the UK elections which provided a strong negotiator on the other side of the table for Brexit talks.

Asked whether he agreed that Mrs May was a "bloody difficult woman", Mr Selmayr said: "President Juncker said today that she is an impressive woman and that she is a very impressive negotiator.

"That's the way we have come to know her, and I don't think that's going to change.

"We need a very strong negotiator who unites the whole nation behind her and then in a very strong and tough way leads the negotiations."

Speaking to a press conference hosted by the Politico website in Brussels, Mr Selmayr acknowledged that the leaks of last week's dinner had created "a lot of havoc", but insisted that the EU side were treating the negotiations "professionally".

"Certainly there is much ado about this, but that doesn't change anything in principle for the President of the Commission, the EU and Michel Barnier," he said.

"We will be going about this very professionally."

Brexit negotiations would not be "a walk in the park", but he was sure that, as a "pragmatic" nation, the UK would conduct them "in good faith", he said.

And he added: "Brexit will never become a success, of course, because it is a sad and sorry event.

"But as I have set out, it can be managed in a professional and pragmatic way."

Mr Selmayr played down the extent to which Brexit will dominate EU activities in the coming months, insisting that Mr Juncker will be spending only about "half an hour a week" on the subject.

Brexit would only come to the forefront of EU debate every three or four months, he predicted.</s>'EU trying to interfere in UK election'

UK Prime Minister Theresa May says EU and European press have been trying to affect the result of the UK general election with Brexit "threats" and "misrepresentation".

UK Prime Minister Theresa May says the EU and European press have been trying to affect the result of the UK general election with Brexit "threats" and "misrepresentation".
Conservative politician Theresa May accuses European Union officials of trying to influence the upcoming elections.