UK Minister Lashes Out at EU's 'Ghastly' Juncker for 'Grotesque' Women Touching

UK Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd took a dig at European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker over footage from last week’s meeting in Brussels, which showed him messing up a female official’s hair.

READ MORE: 'Shall I Dance for You?' May, Juncker Caught on Camera in 'Tense' Exchange

Speaking to The Telegraph, Rudd labelled Juncker’s touchy-feely-kissy antics as “grotesque” and said that he would probably be placed under investigation if it happened in the UK.

“It’s grotesque. I mean, if that happened in our parliament I hope there would be a formal complaint. When I used to go the EU for meetings, I often had a terrible cold to insist that I didn’t get enveloped in a bear hug. All the EU commissioners love doing their big hugs”, Rudd said, referring to the hair incident.

Describing the EU Commission president as “ghastly”, Rudd also pointed to the video, showing Juncker holding Prime Minister Theresa May’s shoulder as they were engaged in a visibly tense exchange:

“What I minded before that were those pictures of the way he was holding the prime minister. I did not like that”.

A Thousand Kisses From You is Never Enough

Juncker, known for his heartfelt greetings, has been showering European and world leaders with hugs and kisses, as it happened with former European Parliament president Martin Schulz in 2015…

…or European Council president Donald Tusk…

…and “nebulous” Theresa May…

…even Donald Trump was honoured with the trademark kiss:

A few years ago, Juncker was filmed slapping a number of EU leaders across the face and addressing Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban as “dictator” in a bizarre meet-and-greet: