Theresa May admits Brexit puts everyone's 'economic security and prosperity at risk'

PM uses Downing Street address to attack EU politicians and warn of danger of failure

Failure in Brexit negotiations could risk Britons' "economic security and prosperity," Theresa May has admitted.

If talks do not go the UK's way "we risk the secure and well-paid jobs we want for our children and our children’s children," the Prime Minister conceded in a speech outside Downing Street.

In the same address she launched a fierce attack on EU politicians, accusing them of meddling in the UK general election and trying to wreck Brexit.

Ms May said: "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.

"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 statement is widely seen as part of the PM's electioneering ahead of the general election on 8 June, but also that such a stance risks alienating those EU figures she must manage difficult negotiations with.

Hours earlier the European Commission had signalled an uncompromising approach to the talks after new estimates emerged of the potential size of the UK’s "divorce bill" – putting it as high as €100bn (£84bn).

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned Ms May earlier on Wednesday that Brexit talks would be a "steep and rocky path" with perilous dangers ahead.

As he unveiled his negotiating mandate, Mr Barnier compared pending negotiations to mountain walking, fraught with hazards like "falling rocks" and argued that Brexit would not be "painless".

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats' EU spokesman, told The Independent: "May is admitting a hard Brexit could be hugely damaging to people’s jobs and to future generations. However, she is still refusing to give the people the final say on the deal despite the impact it could have on their livelihoods.

"She talks about difficult negotiations being a threat to our children, and our children’s children, but it is her zealous pursuit of a hard Brexit that will make life painfully difficult for generations to come.

"Theresa May's desperate, bizarre statement could have come word for word from Nigel Farage.

"The coalition of hard Brexit between the Conservatives and UKIP is now complete, and it will be hard-pressed families up and down the country who will suffer most."