Theresa May was warned 'Brexit cannot be a success' at a disastrous No 10 dinner that left EU chiefs believing the chances of a deal are less than 50 per cent, it emerged today.
The Prime Minister hosted EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Downing Street last Wednesday night.
But the 90 minute dinner broke up with Mr Juncker 'ten times more sceptical' about the prospects of a deal within two years, according to a highly partisan leak in the German press.
The new account, based entirely on Brussels sources, reveals Mrs May urged 'let us make Brexit a success' but Mr Juncker replied 'Brexit cannot be a success'.
The meeting was intended to smooth the way to Saturday's agreement by the remaining EU 27 of their negotiating guidelines - seen as a hardline position in London.
No 10 today said it did not 'recognise' the account of the meeting and pointed to an official statement from Mr Juncker describing it as 'constructive'.
Brexit supporters told MailOnline the claims were 'preliminary scene setting' as both sides set out their stall and played down the risk to the talks as a whole.
As reports of the dinner emerged, Mrs May was yesterday forced to reject claims from Mr Juncker she was in a 'different galaxy' to those she was negotiating with.
A call from Mr Juncker after the dinner prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel to warn about 'delusions' in London last Thursday - leading to Mrs May's Friday warning to Tory activists the EU was ganging up on Britain in a tit-for-tat row.
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Mrs May insisted Britain was not obligated by the EU treaties to pay any kind of Brexit bill and was backed up by her Brexit Secretary David Davis who said leaving the EU court meant any bill could not be enforced.
Mr Juncker replied this would mean no trade deal between Britain and the EU.