Theresa May refuses invitation to address public session of the European Parliament

PM accused of unecessarily making enemies

Theresa May has vowed to crack down on corporate greed (Getty)

Theresa May has refused an invitation to address a public session of the European Parliament, prompting suggestions that she is unnecessarily making enemies during the Brexit process.

Brussels sources say the Prime Minister was only willing to speak to MEPs behind closed doors after parliament president Antonio Tajani invited her to present her Brexit position to the elected European representatives.

Margaret Thatcher famously faced the European Parliament in 1986 to argue for reforms of the then European Community’s Commons Agricultural Policy. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have also addressed the chamber; David Cameron agreed to do so but suspended his speech and resigned before it could be re-scheduled.

A Downing Street spokesperson did not deny that Ms May had declined to address a plenary session of the EU-wide elected body.

“The Prime Minister has confirmed to President Tajani that she would be happy to address the conference of presidents. A date will now be arranged with his team,” the spokesperson said.

Criticising the decision, Elmar Brok MEP, a German member of the European parliament’s Brexit steering committee, told the Guardian newspaper: “The European parliament remains ready to offer flexible solutions. Why make enemies? It’s ridiculous.”

The PM, notorious for her dislike of unscripted media appearance, may be wary of appearing in public in the Parliament because all proceedings are broadcast live on television. When her predecessor Margaret Thatcher appeared before the body in 1986 she was interrupted by a protester and Ms May has no shortage of enemies on the benches in Brussels who might be willing to cause a scene.

The background to Brexit negotiations appear sto have become increasingly bad-tempered after the stand-still during the latest third round of talks last week.

The European Commission today released meeting minutes from July in which Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called into question Brexit Secretary David Davis’s suitability to lead the British negotiating team.

On Sunday Mr Davis himself said chief negotiator Michel Barnier looked “silly” for claiming there had been no progress in talks, while Mr Barnier himself has suggested that the British side does not understand the consequences of leaving the single market and EU.