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They say the eyes are the window to the soul. But as Theresa May stood on the steps of Downing Street, her look made me fear for Britain.

We’re 20 years on from when Labour promised Things Can Only Get Better (and they did) – and May looks determined to make sure things can only get worse.

How did we get to being on the verge of economic war with Europe?

Just weeks ago the President of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker , met with Theresa Maybe to discuss the Brexit break-up over dinner.

“Deluded” and “in another galaxy” were some of the kinder comments about her.

But to directly accuse the EU of interfering with our election is the kind of dangerous and xenophobic rant you’d expect from a dictator.

(Image: AFP)

May knows she can’t safely get us out of the EU without harming our jobs, livelihoods and security.

This isn’t about getting us out. It’s all about keeping her in.

When it comes to the art of negotiation, she is way out of her depth. If she really wants to get a deal with Europe, this is how you do it: Firstly, when negotiating a good deal, you need to offer goodwill. I know this from negotiating for the EU in the Kyoto climate change talks.

A crucial olive branch would have been securing the rights of existing EU citizens to remain in the UK, as Labour has promised.

It would have set the tone and been reciprocated.

Instead, May used EU nationals and withholding security co-operation on terrorism as bargaining chips to please a right-wing press.

I remember dealing with Juncker when he was Luxembourg’s PM. If I’m honest, I never liked the guy because he was quite arrogant.

But he was always up for a deal. Juncker will run rings round May.

Secondly, you need to put together a good team to get your deal. I worked with some great environment ministers across Europe during Kyoto, including a certain Angela Merkel. That meant dealing with conservative, socialist, liberal and green politicians. I tried to find the common ground between them as we worked together to get the first global deal on climate change.

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(Image: Reuters)

While I’ve got some time for fellow bruiser Brexit Secretary David Davis, he hasn’t been a minister since 1997 and his attention to detail isn’t great.

The picture of him beside a Tory poster that was cropped by photographers to read “Hell For Your Family” spoke volumes about May’s approach. But Davis is a colossus compared to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox .

Boris has become a laughing stock in Europe with his cack-handed approach to diplomatic relations. The FO should not be his department – it should be his direction of travel.

Thirdly, to secure a good deal you need realistic expectations. May believes she can get an EU trade deal in two years. Canada’s EU deal took more than seven years – and the US one fell apart.

Theresa May boasts about being a “bloody difficult woman”. But that won’t impress the likes of Merkel, who’s a bloody impressive woman.

It may win May votes but it won’t win us favours.

May claims she wants a united nation. But the bitter EU referendum fanned the flames of hatred that led to a pro-Remain MP being murdered.

May’s paranoid outburst has poured petrol on those dying embers of hatred and will only divide this country further.

We’ve less than two years to get an EU deal or we’ll crash out of the single market with devastating consequences for jobs, businesses and livelihoods.

If May was really a “strong and stable” leader she wouldn’t be wasting two months on an election.

May thinks she’s the new Maggie. But she’s a Poundland Thatcher playing a very dangerous game.

This is strange and unstable leadership. And she must be stopped.