Brexit worries
Blow for May as leaked report claims she begged EU for help
She has deep rings under her eyes. She looks like someone who doesn’t sleep at night UNSOURCED REPORT ON MRS MAY IN GERMAN PRESS
it up, Mrs May nervously shook her head. The unsourced account, published in respected German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, suggested the Torychief appeared “anxious, despondent and disheartened”.
It said: “Everyone can see: the Prime Minister is marked by the struggle with her own party. She has deep rings under her eyes. She looks like someone who doesn’t sleep at night.”
The paper added: “She indicated back home friend and foe are at her back plotting to bring her down. May said she had no room left to manoeuvre. The Europeans have to create it for her.”
Mr Juncker insisted he was not behind the leak. Asked by BBC News if he had spoken to the German press, he said: “No, never. I am really surprised – if not shocked – about what’s been written in the German press, and of course repeated by the British press.
“Nothing is true in all of this. I had an excellent working dinner with Theresa May. She was in good shape.” The dinner was described by Mr Juncker as “no charm offensive but rather a cry for help”.
It follows a similar incident in April, when Mrs May accused some in the EU of “meddling” in the general election campaign after details of a dinner between her and Mr Juncker appeared in the German press.
No10 said it had no comment on the latest reports and pointed out both sides felt the get-together had been “constructive and friendly”.
Earlier Nick Timothy, who was Mrs May’s chief of staff until he quit after the general election, pointed the finger at the European Commission.
In a reference to Mr Juncker’s chief of staff Mr Selmayr, he tweeted: “After constructive Council meeting, Selmayr does this. Reminder that some in Brussels want no deal or a punitive one.”
But Mr Selmayr said the claim was “false” and neither he nor Mr Juncker had any “interest in weakening” Mrs May.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson urged EU leaders to “get on with it” as they prepared for fresh Brexit talks without the UK.
Speaking at the Chatham House think tank, the Foreign Secretary said: “I suggest humbly to our friends and partners in Brussels to get on with it.
“They should grip it, go and get on with it and start thinking about the future.”
WHATEVER the truth over who said what about Theresa May, the fact is the Prime Minister isn’t an inspiring leader in the most important negotiations to engulf our country for nearly half a century.
We need somebody at the top of their game to secure the best Brexit deal and May’s clearly struggling badly.
The leak row might be a misunderstanding, the German newspaper perhaps publishing an inaccurate account, but could anybody deny May looks “anxious”, “tormented”, “despondent and discouraged”? No.
Briefings and counter-briefings are part and parcel of diplomacy yet how the rest of Europe views Brexiting Britain is worrying.