No 10 refuses to deny May was 'begging for help' over Brexit at dinner with Juncker last week – Politics live

Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Theresa May’s statement to MPs about Brexit and the EU summitNo 10 lobby briefing – SummaryLunchtime summary 3.06pm BST Robert Peston, the ITV political editor, has written an interesting Facebook post about the FAZ report of the May/Juncker dinner. Here’s an excerpt.The most revealing statement made today was a Tweet by Juncker’s chief of staff, the German lawyer Martin Selmayr, that he and Juncker have “no interest in weakening PM” …As it happens I have been told repeatedly and reliably that Merkel in particular regards the prospect of Johnson becoming prime minister, and therefore her counterpart in Brexit talks, with the relish that most of us would feel if presented with a plate of steaming sick. 2.28pm BST First and most important it is vital to understand that President Trump has not withdrawn from the JCPOA. He has not junked it.He has continued to waive nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, and having spoken to some of the most influential figures on Capitol Hill – none of them fans of the Iranian regime – I have absolutely no doubt that with determination and courage the JCPOA can be preserved.Labour is no longer just an opposition but a government in waiting. We must be ready to serve our country in the event of an early election.That is why the entire shadow cabinet is stepping up our preparations for government and I have asked Jon Trickett to take the lead in this work.At the moment I am funding myself. I entered this knowing it wasn’t paid. And, if I don’t get any sort of remuneration from this, then we will be selling the home, and so on. Continue reading…
Via: No 10 refuses to deny May was 'begging for help' over Brexit at dinner with Juncker last week – Politics live