David Lidington, the Europe minister, has told Lady Ashton that she should concentrate on doing less, more effectively and must rein in EUofficials who are treading on national sovereignty.
Mr Lidington's criticism is the first public rebuke to the EU foreign minister, a Labour peer, and came as groundswell of discontent over her performance grows across Europe.
The government is particularly angry that Lady Ashton, Britain's most senior ranking EU official, has demanded the biggest administrative budget increase, of 5.8 per cent, in Brussels for next year.
The rise in her costs, which will take her spending to £427 million, defies a campaign by David Cameron to cut EU spending, set to rise 4.9 per cent in total next year, at a time of national austerity, including cuts to the British foreign office.
"They have got to get real," said Mr Lidington. "This 5.8 per cent, asking for more than the EU as a whole is asking for, is somewhat ludicrous." » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Monday, May 23, 2011
