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Theresa May relishes ‘bloody difficult woman’ tag

British Prime Minister Theresa May talks up her 'Bloody difficult woman' tag..

British Prime Minister Theresa May talks up her 'Bloody difficult woman' tag.. Photo: AP

Theresa May has boasted about being a “bloody difficult woman” amid reports of a clash with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker over Brexit.

The British Prime Minister insisted “a lot” of the leaked account of a difficult Downing Street dinner between the UK and European representatives was “Brussels gossip”.

But she acknowledged the negotiations were going to be tough after a detailed account in the German press of their meeting suggested Mr Juncker left fearing the negotiations would end in failure.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms May recalled the description of her coined by former cabinet colleague Ken Clarke.

“During the Conservative Party leadership campaign I was described by one of my colleagues as a ‘bloody difficult woman’,” she said.

“And I said at the time the next person to find that out will be Jean-Claude Juncker.”

Pressed by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg on whether the European Commission chief had indeed found that out, Ms May said: “Well these are going to be tough negotiations as we go ahead”.

“I’m asking the British people to give me a mandate to go into those negotiations,” she said.

“Every vote for me and my team is a vote to strengthen our hand in ensuring that we get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom.”

Asked whether Mr Juncker had told her at the dinner that “Brexit cannot be a success”, Ms May said: “I don’t recall the account that has been given of the meeting that took place.

“I think a lot of this is Brussels gossip.”

She said the UK needed the “right leadership” in the negotiations: “The 27 other EU countries on one side of the table and who is going to be there standing up for the UK?

“It’s either going to be me or Jeremy Corbyn.”

– AAP

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