Juncker denies leaking that ‘tired’ May ‘begged for help’ over dinner

The president of the European Commission has denied claims his office leaked details of a private dinner after German media reported that Prime Minister Theresa May appeared “anxious”, “tormented”, “despondent and discouraged”.

Jean-claude Juncker said he was “shocked” by the highly personal account of the dinner in Brussels last Monday, which suggested Mrs May “begged for help” from her European Union counterparts to deliver a positive Brexit deal.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he had “no comment whatsoever” on the report.

Asked about the account, Mr Juncker said: “I am really surprised – if not shocked – about what has 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, she was not tired, she was fighting as is her duty, so everything for me was OK.”

He added that pleading was “not the style of British prime ministers”.

Mrs May’s former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, blamed Mr Juncker’s chief of staff Martin Selmayr for the disparag- ing account, tweeting: “After constructive Council meeting, Selmayr does this. Reminder that some in Brussels want no deal or a punitive one.” But Mr Selmayr accused Mr Timothy of spreading “false” claims.

Mr Selmayr tweeted: “I know it doesn’t fit your cliché, @ Nickjtimothy. But @Junckereu & I have no interest in weakening PM. But it seems some have interest in undermining constructive relations @Junckereu & PM May. Who? is the real question.”

Mr Selmayr, one of the most powerful operators in Brussels, was also accused of leaking details of a previous dinner at Downing Street.