'We NOW more DETERMINED' Farage hammers 'DISHONOURABLE' Juncker’s Brexit tricks
NIGEL FARAGE tore apart Jean-Claude Juncker after a “rude and abusive” account of his meeting with Theresa May appeared in a German newspaper.
Farage on EU: They're not prepared to play with a straight bat
The outspoken Brexiteer claimed the president of the European Commission’s decision to reveal the details of his Downing Street dinner, to a German newspaper, was “dishonourable”.
The Prime Minister was forced to dismiss reports in Frankfurter Allgemeine as “Brussels gossip”, but Mr Farage claimed the European Union’s dirty tricks will make Britain more determined to succeed in negotiations.
The report of the dinner last Wednesday claimed Mr Juncker’s officials believe there is a greater than 50 per cent chance the Brexit talks would collapse.
Mr Juncker is reported to have told Theresa May: “I leave Downing Street 10 times as sceptical as I was before.”
They are stuck in this mindset that says whatever happens they must not be nice to the Brits
It is also said he accused her of “megaphone diplomacy” and had adopted a complacent approach to the upcoming Brexit negotiations, which will begin after the June 8 General Election.
Speaking on his LBC show, Mr Farage said: “One thing that we learn from this is that no negotiations with these people will ever take place in secret.
“We’re not dealing, frankly, with honourable people, they are not prepared to play this with a straight bat.”
The former Ukip leader offered a word of advice to Mrs May, insisting anything discussed between the UK and Brussels in private would be “leaked out” during Brexit negotiations.
Merkel ally blasts Juncker over Brexit dinner leaks
Mr Farage added: “They are stuck in this mindset, stuck in this mentality that says whatever happens they must not be nice to the Brits.
“Well, history tells us when they’re rude about us and abusive about us it makes up even more determined.”
An ally to German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Brussels to conduct the negotiations in private, claiming leaks aren’t helpful for the already complex nature of Brexit.
Ms Merkel spoke to Mr Juncker after his Downing Street meeting, which prompted her to tell German MPs British people have “illusions” over whether the UK’s EU divorce can be agreed at the same time as its future relationship with the bloc.
She claimed it would be a “waste of time” for Mrs May’s Brexit negotiators to maintain that approach and demand the two sets of negotiations be held simultaneously.
Stephan Mayer, the Christian Democrat Union’s home affairs spokesman, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Certainly it is not good when such details become public.
“I think, in regards to the complexity of the upcoming negotiations both partners and sides should be interested leading negotiations quite confidentially and not in public.
“They are complicated enough, and I think it’s worse when the negotiations are held in public.”