'I know how tough she is' Juncker admits tenacious May will drive hard bargain over Brexit
JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker today praised “tough” Theresa May and said senior EU officials appreciated that the tenacious British prime minister will drive a hard bargain with them on Brexit.
Jean Claude Juncker: I have noted Theresa May is a tough lady
In a series of personal remarks the EU Commission spoke spike of his “deep respect” for the PM and hinted that she had already demonstrated her dogged attitude with him during talks.
But he also had a warning for Brexit secretary David Davis, who earlier warned EU officials that he was prepared to walk out of negotiations if their demands become too ridiculous.
Mr Davis was referring to reports that the financial settlement Britain will be required to pay upon leaving the bloc has been hiked to £85bn at the request of France, Germany and Poland.
At a press conference with the Estonian prime minister this afternoon Mr Juncker was asked what he thought about Mrs May’s comments that she would be a “bloody difficult woman” to deal with.
He replied: “I deeply respect the British prime minister, I like her as a person. I have noted that she is a tough lady so this is not for the future this is a real time description.”
The PM had said in an interview yesterday: “I think what we've seen recently is that at times these negotiations are going to be tough.
"During the Conservative Party leadership campaign I was described by one of my colleagues as a bloody difficult woman. And I said at the time the next person to find that out will be Jean-Claude Juncker."
May warns Juncker: I will be a 'bloody difficult woman'
Mr Juncker was also quizzed on the furious response Mr Davis gave to the latest Brexit bill revelations, which he insist the Government “will not be paying”.
The Brexit secretary said: "In the walkaway circumstance, there is nothing to be paid. Nobody is looking for that outcome, that's the important point to be made.
"We want a deal, we think we can get a deal and we will get a deal that is beneficial to everybody."
In his response, Mr Juncker once again hinted at his personal belief that Britain will one day rejoin the EU, having previously said he thought the UK would be “back in the boat” with the rest of Europe one day.
The chief eurocrat said: “I don’t think that David was right when he was threatening that he would be ready to go out.
“My experience in politics always was that those who were going out had to come back.”