Cameron playing weakened hand after EU Juncker row

"I think cool heads are required all round - Cameron needs to cool down and refrain from further threats, other leaders need to tone down the rhetoric on their side," said Simon Tilford, deputy director at the CER."I think cool heads are required all round - Cameron needs to cool down and refrain from further threats, other leaders need to tone down the rhetoric on their side," said Simon Tilford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank.

"To put Cameron in an untenable position would be a very short-sighted move" ahead of the in-out referendum on EU membership which Cameron will call if his Conservatives win next year's general election, he added.