David Cameron faces isolation at EU as he 'refuses to speak to Jean-Claude Juncker'

David Cameron was today reported to be refusing to speak to Jean-Claude Juncker as he launched a last-ditch effort to stop the federalist being installed as the new European Commission president.

The Prime Minister faced a danger of being isolated and humiliated at an EU summit next week, after it emerged that German Chancellor Angela Merkel aims to force a vote on the issue. Mr Cameron’s public at-tempts to thwart Mr Juncker’s chances were being derided in Brussels as “cack-handed diplomacy” and “inept”.

However, British officials say that among the other 27 EU leaders, “closet critics” who privately oppose Mr Juncker, could join Mr Cameron to block the former Luxembourg prime minister. “Discussions are ongoing and we will continue to make the case,” said a British official. “There are a lot of people who have these misgivings. Until the die is cast, it is not too late.”

Mr Juncker is regarded in No 10 as a roadblock to vital EU reforms, and Mr Cameron has invested a fortune of his political capital in a public campaign that has angered Mrs Merkel.

Leaked papers recording a dinner for European diplomats last week reveal that she wants to cut short the squabble and “now favours moving very promptly to appointing Juncker”. They state: “Short of a complete U-turn by [Merkel], the die is cast in Berlin.”

A confident Mr Juncker has begun telephoning EU leaders to discuss their concerns, but the BBC reported that his advances were being rebuffed by the Prime Minister and by the UK’s diplomatic office in Brussels.