Juncker says UK will regret leaving

BRUSSELS chief Jean-Claude Juncker was accused of arrogance last night after suggesting Britain would ultimately live to regret leaving the EU.

The president of the European Commission claimed the UK would struggle to work in harmony with other countries and distanced himself from any criticism of his stewardship.

The 64-year-old instead blamed the UK’s departure on a steady flow of negative stories about the European project – particularly immigration.

“If you curse Europe from Monday to Saturday, you can’t then expect that on Sunday people become ardent fans of Europe,” he said.

“It also has to do with the habit of governments crediting member states with any European success, while sticking any defeats on Europe.”

He added: “My result is one to be proud of. The Commission has

‘Neither tears nor claps when chief retires’

got a lot of things moving – it has boosted European investment, improved the unemployment figures and concluded trade agreements with Canada and Japan.”

However, Mr Juncker, who is set to retire at the end of his term in office in October, recognised the migrant crisis had made “some Europeans despair”.

Last night a senior Tory MP who did not wish to be named said: “Mr Juncker’s arrogant attitude once again shows why it was right for our country to vote to leave the EU.

“It must be quite a blow for him and his army of bureaucrats to look on at the British economy as we outperform the EU.”

And Independent MEP Steven Woolfe said: “There will be neither tears nor claps when Juncker finally goes because under his reign the difference between rich and poor has increased and people have died in the Med due to the policies he has enacted over the past five years.”