Former British prime minister Sir John Major has called on Theresa May to inject "a little more charm and a lot less cheap rhetoric" into the Brexit negotiations.

In a stinging attack, the ex-Tory leader said he had watched with "growing concern" over the way the country has been led to expect a future outside the European Union that is "unreal and over-optimistic".

Voters must be told how the outcomes of the negotiations will affect them, Sir John said as he warned the most vulnerable are likely to be hit hardest by the impact of quitting the bloc.

In a speech at Chatham House in London, he said: " I have watched with growing concern as the British people have been led to expect a future that seems to be unreal and over-optimistic.

"Obstacles are brushed aside as of no consequence, whilst opportunities are inflated beyond any reasonable expectation of delivery."

Sir John said the talks require "statesmanship of a high order" and warned of a "real risk" of the exit deal falling " well below the hopes and expectations" that have been raised.

" I see little chance we will be able to match the advantages of the single market," he said.

"In my own experience, the most successful results are obtained when talks are conducted with goodwill: it is much easier to reach agreement with a friend than a quarrelsome neighbour.

"Behind the diplomatic civilities, the atmosphere is already sour. A little more charm, and a lot less cheap rhetoric, would do much to protect the UK's interests."

I see little chance we will be able to match the advantages of the single market- Sir John Major

The former premier's time in Number 10 was marked by a series of bruising battles with his own MPs over Europe and his outspoken opposition to quitting the bloc has previously angered Eurosceptic Tories.

Sir John said Leave voters backed Brexit in the belief it would improve their lives.

" If events go badly, their expectations will not be met, and whole communities will be worse off," he said. "The particular fear I have is that those most likely to be hurt will be those least able to protect themselves."

Sir John said it was "time to stop" the attacks on Remain supporters, insisting they are demeaning and intolerant.

He told how pro-EU voters had contacted him in "dismay" and "despair" over the way they are being told to keep quiet and toe the line.

"A popular triumph at the polls - even in a referendum - does not take away the right to disagree - nor the right to express that dissent.

"Freedom of speech is absolute in our country. It's not 'arrogant' or 'brazen' or 'elitist', or remotely 'delusional' to express concern about our future after Brexit.

"Nor, by doing so, is this group undermining the will of the people: they are the people. Shouting down their legitimate comment is against all our traditions of tolerance. It does nothing to inform and everything to demean - and it is time it stopped."

During the speech he called for ministers to be trusted to carry out the negotiations but insisted Parliament should not be treated as a " rubber stamp".

Brexit has "energised" anti-EU, anti-immigrant nationalism in other European countries, including France, Germany and Holland, he said.

"I caution everyone to be wary of this kind of populism," he added. "It seems to be a mixture of bigotry, prejudice and intolerance.

"It scapegoats minorities. It is a poison in any political system - destroying civility and decency and understanding. Here in the UK we should give it short shrift, for it is not the people we are - nor the country we are."

Sir John warned that Britain is becoming more dependent on the United States at a time when the president is " less predictable, less reliable and less attuned" to Britain's ways than any of his predecessors.

He warned against those who want the UK to crash out of the EU and adopt World Trade Organisation rules.

He said: "There is a choice to be made, a price to be paid; we cannot move to a radical enterprise economy without moving away from a welfare state."

A No 10 source said: " The Government is determined to make a success of our departure from the European Union and to move beyond the language of leave and remain to unite our country.

"The Prime Minister set out her 12 negotiating objectives for Brexit in January. We have a clear plan to get the best deal for the United Kingdom and are going to get on with the job of delivering it."

Labour's Chuka Umunna, a supporter of Open Britain, the campaign group calling for close links to be retained with Brussels, said: "It is absolutely right to warn that if the Government continues on its current course, we will end up with the kind of hard, destructive Brexit that costs jobs and damages our economy.

"The Government have promised to get a deal that delivers the 'exact same benefits' as we have today. Sir John is right to question how likely that is, but there is no chance at all of it being delivered if our European partners across the negotiating table continue to be demonised.

"It is vital that Parliament is given a meaningful vote on the final agreement, with the power to send the Government back to the negotiating table if the deal they come back with is not good enough for Britain."

Sir John said a second referendum was a "long way away, if ever" but did not rule out backing a fresh vote in the future.

"I'm not in the business of advocating a second referendum at this stage," he said.

"Let us see how things begin to pan out.

"Let us see whether public opinion changes."

Sir John, who was caught calling the ringleaders of moves against him over the EU "bastards" while he was PM, said Mrs May would have to "face down" opponents.

"At some time, every government has to deal with people in their party who genuinely believe something different to the government's policy and in that the government has to face them down and prevail," he said.

The former leader, who denied he was trying to be a "backseat driver", said the chance of no agreement being reached within the two-year time limit after Brexit is triggered is "very high".

"An unacceptable deal, of course, can be obtained but an acceptable, comprehensive deal by that date, I think it will be extraordinarily hard to achieve it," he said.

Sir John said he did not believe there was a deliberate attempt by the Government to mislead the public.

He said: "I wouldn't charge my colleagues with a deliberate attempt to deceive in government. I think there was a lapse in detail during the referendum campaign.

"Sometimes it was quite a large lapse. But, I think in government the realities are becoming apparent."

John Longworth, co-chair of the Leave Means Leave campaign group, said: "Sir John Major is unable to accept that Britain is leaving the EU when he should be looking forward to the opportunities that Brexit will bring - regaining control of our borders, negotiating trade deals with the rest of the world, deregulation, spending our EU net contribution in Britain, tariff reduction and making this country the best country in the world to do business."

He added: "Instead of carping from the sidelines and damaging Britain, Sir John Major should heed his own advice. After the 1997 election he said 'when the curtain falls, it is time to get off the stage'."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "The Conservatives should listen to the likes of John Major and Heseltine instead of sneering at them.

"These are people with huge experience of negotiating with Europe, while the Brexiteers have no clear strategy.

"There is nothing patriotic about shutting down debate on the risks of a hard Brexit for our country's prosperity and security.

"John Major faced down his 'bastards', now it's time for Theresa May to face down hers."