...and jibes like this probably won’t help!
THERESA May’s demand to be shown ‘respect’ was last night being interpreted as a rebuke to Donald Tusk for mocking her on social media.
The European Council president had appeared to mock Mrs May on Instagram on Thursday when he posted a picture of himself offering cake to
the UK PM, with the caption ‘Sorry, no cherries’.
Yesterday, she said: ‘Throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it.’
UK Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab led criticism against the post, stating: ‘I think some of the way that it was done, social media against the prime minister didn’t feel like very statesman-like behaviour. We’ve already compromised hugely with the Chequers proposals.’
Perhaps mindful of the precarious stage the negotiations are at, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker chose a colourful metaphor to urge all sides to proceed carefully.
‘We have to be careful, like two loving hedgehogs,’ he said. ‘When two hedgehogs hug each other, you have to be careful that there will be no scratches.’