The renewal of Angela Merkel’s mandate as German Chancellor has come at a heavy price. The far-right party Alternative for Germany won 94 seats in the parliamentary elections, with anti-immigration as its principal rallying cry. British hopes that Mrs Merkel’s re-election would free her to concentrate more on breaking the Brexit logjam now look unrealistic.

Looking at Theresa May from a European perspective, she appears to be trying to square a circle.