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Theresa May has launched an extraordinary attack on EU leaders who she accused of trying to sabotage both the general election and Brexit .

Speaking today after she visited the Queen to formally kick-start a 36-day countdown to the polls, the Tory leader said some in Brussels "do not want Britain to prosper".

And she claimed damning leaks and talk of a vast 'divorce bill' were "threats" that were "deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused her of "playing party games with Brexit" to "wrap the Conservative party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her government's economic failure".

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry added: "For Theresa May to use the backdrop of Downing Street to‎ make such preposterous, paranoid and xenophobic claims is ill-befitting the office of Prime Minister. The only response from the British public should be to get her out of that office as soon as possible."

The Tory leader told the world's media in Downing Street: "Britain’s negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press.

"The European Commission’s negotiating stance has hardened.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

"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."

The Tory leader added: "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 said Britain still "want a deal" but warned: "There are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed - who do not want Britain to prosper."

She was immediately compared to hardline Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by former Tony Blair aide Alastair Campbell.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon branded the speech "irresponsible" and said Mrs May was making the EU a "bogeyman" to get out her core vote.

She 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."

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner branded the Tory leader “weak and wobbly”, adding: “Attacking those we want to have a trade deal with&whom we need to negotiate with on Brexit is not very helpful or sensible.”

(Image: PA)

Labour MP Chuka Umunna said it was "straightforward electioneering putting the Tory Party's interests before the national interest".

Barrister Jo Maugham wrote: “Who chose a referendum? Lied their way to victory? Misled about a deal? Set our priorities? Mishandled negotiations?”

Mrs May declared her verbal war on Brussels after days of damaging leaks and briefings undermining her Brexit negotiation.

Reports today suggest the EU's demand of a Brexit 'divorce bill' is now expected to rise from €60billion to €100billion.

And a damaging account emerged last week of Mrs May's No10 dinner with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, who is said to have told her "Brexit cannot be a success".

A leaked account in a German newspaper described how he told her the EU “is not a golf club” and left Downing Street “10 times as sceptical” as he was before.

Despite writing the account off as “Brussels gossip”, the Tory leader has refused to deny the details of what Mr Juncker said.

She failed to mention her own party's name once in the 1,084-word speech, focusing instead on her own apparent qualities as a leader.

But she did manage to say "me" nine times in the short address.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: Getty Images Europe)

And she turned her fire to Labour's leader, saying down the lens of a camera: "It is a choice between me – 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.

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

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"Britain simply will not get the right Brexit deal if we have the drift and division of a hung parliament. W ith Jeremy Corbyn negotiating Brexit we will all pay a high price."

Before the speech she spent more than 30 minutes at Buckingham Palace, a longer-than-expected audience with the Queen to mark the formal dissolution of Parliament.

(Image: PA)

(Image: PA)

Historically, a prime minister had to ask the monarch to dissolve Parliament.

The 2011 Fixed-Term Parliaments Act removed the Queen's power to block it - but the event provided an opportunity for Mrs May to seize the limelight.

Mrs May's convoy took a longer-than-expected route to the Palace and evaded the Mirror Chicken, who wanted to confront her refusal to take part in TV election debates.

Our plucky reporter was stopped and questioned by police at the scene.

Full transcript: Theresa May's extraordinary attack

(Image: REUTERS)

I have just been to Buckingham Palace for an audience with Her Majesty The Queen to mark the dissolution of this Parliament.

The 2015 Parliament is now at an end, and in 36 days the country will elect a new Government and choose the next Prime Minister. The choice you now face is all about the future.

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.

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.

(Image: AFP)

By contrast, I made clear in my letter to the President of the European Council invoking Article 50 last month 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 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.

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.

So 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 it is central to your own security and prosperity.

Because while there is enormous opportunity for Britain as we leave the European Union, 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.

(Image: PA)

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.

The choice the country faces now is very simple. Because there are only two people who can possibly be Prime Minister after the 8th of June to negotiate Brexit.

It is a choice between me – 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.

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

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

And so with Jeremy Corbyn negotiating Brexit we will all pay a high price.

If instead you want the best negotiation for you and for Britain, then you must make your vote count.

Every vote for me and my local candidates in this election will be a vote to demonstrate that unity of purpose.

Every vote for me and my local team will strengthen my hand when I negotiate for Britain in Europe.

Every vote for me will mean we can get on with delivering my plan for a stronger Britain.

For while the opposition parties look to refight the battles of the past or to paint a vision of the future that is filled with despair, I am ambitious for Britain.

Because I believe our best days lie ahead.

I believe that with dedication and hard work, we can make a success of Brexit, have confidence in our country and stand tall in the world once again.

I believe that we can build a stronger Britain, where our economic progress is secured and prosperity and opportunity is shared around the country.

I believe we can build a stronger economy that rewards all those who work hard, and creates secure and well-paid jobs for our children and our children’s children too.

I believe we can build a fairer society with real opportunity for all, where everyone has the chance to get on in life – where every child gets a good school place and working people can buy a home of their own.

I believe we can build a more secure and united nation by taking action against the extremists who seek to divide us, and standing up to the separatists who wish to tear our country apart.

And I believe these simple values and aspirations are shared by ordinary working people everywhere – and that they can bring this nation together as a result.

For as we face this critical time for our country – five years that will determine the course of this 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.

So in the weeks ahead, I will travel to all corners of this United Kingdom with a positive vision for Britain and a determination to earn your vote.

And I will do so with a clear message:

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.

And give me your backing to deliver for Britain.

A stronger Britain, where our 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.