VIDEO: Juncker's patronising treatment of a top female EU official was just banter, says spokesman

Images of Jean-Claude Juncker greeting a senior female EU official by playing with her hair have been passed off as harmless banter by his spokesman.

The European Commission president broke all protocol rules as he arrived at the EU summit on Friday by ruffling the hair of… his deputy head of protocol, Pernilla Sjölin.

Juncker has been accused of patronising and inappropriate behaviour since the video of Friday’s incident went viral.

Asked about the president’s behaviour on Monday, his chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas joked: “It happens to me very often. We’re delighted to work for a president who sees us as friends and partners.”

But some of Britain’s top politicians haven’t seen the funny side of Juncker’s latest controversy.

MORE: EU’s Juncker: Theresa May was ‘kissing me’ shortly after Brexit row

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon called his conduct “pretty distasteful.”

And Labour MP Jess Philips said: “Juncker should keep his hands to himself and not touch women in a way he wouldn’t touch his male colleagues.”

The incident came on the same morning Juncker was confronted on camera by prime minister Theresa May.

The pair has a public bust-up after reports that the European Commission president had called May “nebulous.”

Juncker told reporters: “After having checked what I said yesterday night, she was kissing me.”