David Cameron mishandled Jean-Claude Juncker row and weakened Britain's 'punch' in Europe, says Vince Cable

Vince Cable: Juncker row 'has not been good for David Cameron'

Joe Murphy @JoeMurphyLondon|Political Editor

26 June 2014

David Cameron was rounded on by Business Secretary Vince Cable today for weakening Britain’s “punch” in Europe by mishandling the row over Jean-Claude Juncker.

“The way it’s been done, unfortunately, has not helped Britain punch its weight in Europe,” said the Lib-Dem Cabinet minister.

Mr Cable’s dramatic intervention comes on the eve of an EU summit that is expected to see federalist Mr Juncker crowned as the powerful new president of the European Commission.

Another senior Lib-Dem, Treasury minister Danny Alexander, also highlighted Coalition differences over Europe with a speech saying three million UK jobs are linked to EU membership. He said the figures were “the measure of the risk that isolationists would have us take”.

The Prime Minister, who faces crushing defeat and isolation in his bid to block Mr Juncker, was buoyed this morning by a poll that suggested the UK public are strongly on his side. By a two-to-one margin, they think he will appear strong rather than weak for making a stand, even if he is defeated, the FT/Populus survey said.

But Mr Cable told BBC radio: “It hasn’t been good for David Cameron. I think he is right in principle that the appointment of the commission president shouldn’t be foisted on heads of government.”

Speaking in Washington, Mr Alexander was expected to say: “The EU has flaws and it must reform. But Britain can only reform it by taking our place at the table, rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. By leading in Europe, not threatening to leave it.”

A jubilant Mr Juncker mocked Mr Cameron last night, boasting in Berlin: “I am not designated commission president yet. If commonsense prevails this will happen at the end of the week — but it seems that common sense is very unequally distributed, so one will have to wait.”

Mr Cameron has repeatedly suggested that Mr Juncker’s elevation to the top job would make an Out vote more likely in the referendum he has promised on Britain’s EU membership if re-elected Premier.

SENIOR Tory MPs, including backbenchers’ 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady, today called for the Coalition to split up before the next general election. They said it was impossible for Mr Cameron to promote a Tory vision for the country while chained to the Lib-Dems.

David Cameron mishandled Jean-Claude Juncker row and weakened Britain's 'punch' in Europe, says Vince Cable

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