Theresa May's claim that shadowy EU officials are "meddling" in the UK's general election is paying off for the prime minister, an ICM poll released on Monday (8 May) suggests.

The survey, of more than 2,000 voters between 5 and 7 May, gave the Conservatives a 22% point lead over Labour. The Tories are on 49% (+3) and Jeremy Corbyn's party is on 27% (-1).

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The research has been published just days after the metro-mayor and local elections were held on 4 May.

The results saw the Conservatives make major gains, particularly the party's West Midlands and Tees Valley victories over Labour.

May played down the Tory gains and used her speech to attack "bureaucrats in Europe".

"Despite the evident will of the British people, we have bureaucrats in Europe who are questioning our resolve to get the right deal," he said.

"And the reality is that only a general election vote for the Conservatives in 34 days time will strengthen my hand to get the best deal for Britain from Brexit."

The row between Downing Street and Brussels was triggered after leaks of a London summit between May and EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker were leaked to a German paper.

Juncker also apparently phoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel to warn that May was "living on another galaxy." May initially dismissed the reports as "Brussels gossip," but she then accused the EU of "meddling."

"Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials. All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election which will take place on 8 June," May said.

EU Council President Donald Tusk has called for calm. "These negotiations are difficult enough as they are. If we start arguing before they even begin, they will become impossible," he said. "The stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand."

With just a month to go before the election, the Tories are on course for a landslide victory against Labour.

Brexit Theresa May European Union