Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker have reached an agreement on behalf of the UK and the EU, paving the way to move Brexit talks forward.
It’s been a tough week for negotiators on both sides, with the tough issue of Ireland’s borders throwing talks into disarray.
Judi James, body language expert, watched the conference this morning and explained how Theresa May and Juncker performed for the cameras and assessed their body language.
She told Express.co.uk: “There was a lot of incongruent body language on display during this crack-of-dawn press statement, meaning the words coming out of Junker’s mouth in particular didn’t quite match up with some of his non-verbal signals.
“His quasi-paternal vibe was still there in the way he clutched the lectern with both hands splayed, using a tone of kindly exhaustion as he spoke of Theresa May’s part in the negotiations in glowing terms, but his body language leakage before and after the statements suggested their power battles might just have got serious behind the scenes.”
Judi revealed May managed to “appear bouncy and perky” despite the lack of sleep.
And she believed the PM was employing head and body-batons to emphasise her points and position herself as the key driver and a “more powerful force in the negotiations”.
She added: “…but there were glimpses of anxiety behind the steely desire to appear in charge, making her look like a leader who is still aware they are walking a tightrope.”
Judi explained: “The pair’s subliminal signals often told a different story to their verbal one.
“May’s speech displayed congruent confidence and energy but when she answered questions, particularly about Ireland, she lost some of her concise clarity and her fingers became more rigid, suggesting tension, while her ‘beachball hands’ gesture suggested creative thinking, hinting the subject could still be work in progress.
“When she did falter over a word her wince suggested that beneath the confident exterior is a layer of anxiety and desire to get it all right.”
The body language expert said she believed there was a “visible disconnect” between Juncker and May that belied his warm words too.
She said: “When they walked together Juncker was slightly ahead in what looked like a bid to avoid the normal chatting and they walked off stage without a glance or gesture to one another to suggest empathy or affection.”
In picture two Judi said the power-pat was a “traditional gesture of higher status” used by political leaders around the world.
She explained: “Juncker used it on May in a way that suggested he was keen to show superior power by steering her off with the equivalent of a shove.
“Often the power-pat will be a literal pat to at least signal friendly power-broking but this one only involves a fingertip touch by Juncker, making it more about steering and less about warmth and friendship.”
In another snap of the pair at the conference, Judi said: “The silent power battle included the handshake which was instigated by May and initially slightly ignored by Juncker.
“It’s traditional for the host to instigate a handshake so May’s technique here does suggest she wanted to emphasise her own status as being in charge of the show but by standing to attention facing front Juncker leaves her seeking out his hand rather than performing a mutually agreeable ritual of rapport.”