UK Edition
Brexit at risk as Jean-Claude Juncker warns negotiations can only begin when Britain is ready
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says he hopes there will be no "further delay" to the start of Brexit negotiations.
Mr Juncker said: "As far as the Commission is concerned we can open negotiations tomorrow morning at half past nine."
He spoke after the EU's chief Brexit negotiator said talks on Britain leaving can only begin when the UK is ready.
Reacting to the shock result of the general election being a hung parliament, Michel Barnier said "Brexit negotiations should start when (the) UK is ready".
He said: "Timetable and EU positions are clear. Let's put our minds together on striking a deal".
Negotiations had been due to start on 19 June but opinion is split on whether that can now happen.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the negotiations will "have to go ahead" because Article 50 has been invoked.
He told Sky News: "The government in office in 11 days time will have to conduct those Brexit negotiations.
"Our position is very clear - we want a 'jobs first' Brexit, therefore the most important thing is the trade deal with Europe."
EU Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said that talks about Britain leaving the EU might not now start as planned in 11 days' time.
Speaking to German radio, he said: "We need a government that can act. With a weak negotiating partner, there's the danger than the negotiations will turn out badly for both sides... I expect more uncertainty now."
Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian Prime Minister, described the general election result as "yet another own goal" for the UK.
Mr Verhofstadt, who is the European Parliament's negotiator for Brexit (with less influence on the deal than Barnier), wrote:
"After Cameron now May, will make already complex negotiations even more complicated" he wrote.
Theresa May, the Prime Minister, said throughout the election campaign that she wanted a mandate to be able to start talks about Brexit on June 19.
Speaking last month, she said: "Every vote for me and my team will strengthen my hand [during] Brexit negotiations."
Speculation is mounting that, with the Tories unable to form a majority in Parliament, the Democratic Unionist Party - the largest unionist political party in Northern Ireland - might demand a softer Brexit to win its support in any coalition.
Early this morning the DUP's website crashed amid talk that it was in pole position to enter coalition talks.
Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP's chief whip, told the BBC: "This is perfect territory for the DUP because obviously if the Conservatives are just short of an overall majority it puts us in a very strong negotiating position."
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage insisted he would return to frontline politics if Brexit was threatened, as he criticised the Tories for picking pro-Remain leader Mrs May.
He told BBC News: "What a huge error to pick a Remainer to lead a Brexit party at a Brexit election.
"Massive mistake, but I think that if we do get Corbyn coalition then Brexit is in some trouble."
Asked whether he would return to the fray if Brexit was in trouble, Mr Farage added: "I would have absolutely no choice but to do exactly that."
The former cabinet secretary Lord O’Donnell said the result will make it very difficult for Theresa May to negotiate Brexit.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “The prime minister has to stay as prime minister for now.
“I think those negotiations on Brexit will be non-existent. It takes two sides to negotiate. The EU will say ‘Who are we negotiating with? Is this a prime minister who is going to be around for very much time? What’s their position?’
“That is really good for the 27. They will threaten us with ‘OK, if there is no deal, well you are out’, WTO terms, that’s very bad for us. So this is not good news for our Brexit position.”