Cameron in the bunker Juncker gets the presidency

British Prime Minister David Cameron has failed in his attempt to block the selection of Jean-Claude Junker as European Commission president.

Britain forced a vote and were resoundingly beaten 26-2.

Still, Cameron appeared determined to bring EU reform to the centre of political debate in Brussels: “This is an important stand, but it is far from being my last. My colleagues in the European Council know that I am deadly serious about EU reform, that I keep my word. If I say I am not going to back down, I won’t. This is going to be a tough fight and frankly sometimes you have to be ready to loose a battle in order to win a war,” he said.

Back home opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband, said Cameron was gambling with the UK’s prosperity: “This represents a complete humiliation he was supposed to be building alliances instead he’s been burning alliances. That is why he has failed to deliver and it is the British national interest that loses out as a result of this decision,” he said.

It is not all bad for Cameron. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was ready to address British concerns, while Swedish Prime Minster Fredrik Reinfeldt.said closer union was “not the best for everyone.”