Major urges ‘more charm’

Former prime minister Sir John Major has called on Theresa May to inject “a little more charm and a lot less cheap rhetoric” into the Brexit negotiations.

In a stinging attack, the ex-Tory leader said he had watched with “growing concern” over the way the country has been led to expect a future outside the European Union that is “unreal and overoptimistic”.

Voters must be told how the outcomes of the negotiations will affect them, Sir John said as he warned the most vulnerable are likely to be hit hardest by the impact of quitting the bloc.

In a speech at Chatham House in London, he said: “In my own experience, the most successful results are obtained when talks are conducted with goodwill: it is much easier to reach agreement with a friend than a quarrelsome neighbour.

“Behind the diplomatic civilities, the atmosphere is already sour. A little more charm, and a lot less cheap rhetoric, would do much to protect the UK’s interests.”