UK post for Brussels ‘Monster’
JEAN-Claude Juncker’s widelyreviled top henchman is on the verge of being appointed as the EU’s ambassador to Britain, diplomatic sources have claimed.
Martin Selmayr, the European Commission President’s chief of staff, is being lined up for the plum post after Brexit, they fear.
He is expected to take charge in the bloc’s UK office at Westminster’s Europe House.
It was once the Tory campaign HQ in the era of Margaret Thatcher and Mr Selmayr, 48, could be appointed within weeks if the withdrawal goes ahead on schedule in March.
Currently the commission’s secretary general, the German is nicknamed “the Monster” in Brussels for his uncompromising style.
During the Brexit negotiations, he was alleged to have been a leading advocate of punishing the UK for leaving the EU. A senior diplomatic source was quoted yesterday as saying: “The move makes perfect sense because once Mr Juncker leaves later this year Selmayr is likely to have his wings clipped there.
“London will be a plum job and the close attention he’s paid to the job spec has been noticed.”
A European Commission spokesman said: “The appointment of a head of delegation will follow the usual recruitment procedure.” SPECULATION was growing at Westminster yesterday about the possibility of an agreement between the UK and Irish governments on the future of the border.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “We are still working to find a solution, but we are not there yet.”
Theresa May’s allies want her to seek a bilateral deal with Ireland to “decontaminate” the border row at the heart of Parliament’s Brexit deadlock, it emerged yesterday.
Whitehall officials were reported to have discussed trying to strike an accord with Irish premier Leo Varadkar to guarantee no tightening of the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
They think the plan could remove the need for the so-called “backstop” insurance policy, which critics say could mean the UK being tied to the EU indefinitely through a customs union.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, said: “I think there are very good reasons why it might appeal to the Irish.
“Ireland would be hurt far more by a no-deal departure on World Trade Organisation terms for the UK.”