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The EU is prepared to delay the crunch Brexit talks if Jeremy Corbyn walks into Downing Street next week, according to reports.

The negotiations are due to begin on June 19 - just a week and a half after the general election.

Theresa May believes this tight timescale is a key reason why her Tory government should be re-elected.

She even claimed Mr Corbyn would be "alone and naked in the negotiating chamber" .

The Prime Minister said this week: "Britain is about to enter into the most important negotiations of my lifetime.

"They begin just 11 days after polling day and the European Union is already adopting an aggressive negotiating position.

(Image: Carl Court)

"That’s why, now more than ever, Britain needs a strong government and a strong prime minister capable of standing up to Brussels."

But now the EU is prepared to give Britain "leeway" on the June 19 date if there is a change of government next week, according to reports.

(Image: REUTERS)

Asked by politicshome.com if a new government could push back this start date, a European Commission source said: "They have got to agree the date, so yes, if the UK was to turn around and say ‘we need a bit of leeway’.

"We don’t have a lot of leeway in the big scheme of things.

"There are only a number of months - less than two years - to do this so there isn’t a terrible lot of scope, but the Commission will agree with the UK the dates for the first negotiating sessions."

(Image: REUTERS)

Article 50 was triggered in March when Britain's ambassador to the EU, Tim Barrow, handed a six-page letter from Mrs May to European Council president Donald Tusk.

This fired a two-year starting pistol on talks to agree the terms of Britain's exit from the EU.

It was followed by a huge political row over the size of Britain's divorce bill, which could be as large as €100billion , according to some inside the EU.

Mrs May later accused EU officials of trying to meddle in the general election as the size of the divorce bill ramped up.

In a blistering attack on the steps of Downing Street, she said: "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."