Despite Brexit, insisted Jean-Claude Juncker stoutly, “the British remain our friends”.

To judge by the extraordinary scenes at the European Parliament today, I’m not sure that all his colleagues agree with him. In fact, I’m not sure that Mr Juncker agrees with himself.

MEPs were holding an emergency meeting in Brussels to debate what to do with Britain now. “Democracy is democracy,” sighed Mr Juncker, the president of the European Commission. “And we must respect the way the UK has voiced its view.”

Sitting across the chamber, Nigel Farage applauded. Mr Juncker eyed him grimly.