Hillary Clinton branded David Cameron's relationship with other EU leaders 'wacky'

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Hillary Clinton said David Cameron’s attempt to block further EU integration was “wacky”, according to newly released emails.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reports US state department displeasure at a 2009 attempt by the then opposition leader to block the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.

Mr Cameron had written to the Czech Republic to ask it not to sign the treaty, which introduced a stronger role for the EU parliament, a president of the EU council and a different voting system.

Sidney Blumenthal, one of Ms Clinton’s closest aides, wrote to her boss describing the situation in the European Union.

“Without passing 'Go’, David Cameron has seriously damaged his relations with the European leaders,” she said.

“Sending a letter to Czech leader Vaclay Klaus [sic] encouraging him not to sign the Lisbon Treaty, as though Cameron were already Prime Minister, he has offended Sarkozy, Merkel and Zapatero [the Spanish PM].”

Mrs Clinton replied: “That is so revealing – and wacky – but it perhaps leaves a very small opening for Tony” – a reference to Tony Blair’s ambition for the EU presidency.

The revelation gives an inside view into how Washington perceives Mr Cameron’s strategy of partial euroscepticism and the influence the UK holds in Europe.

Ms Clinton is a favourite to become the next US president in an election scheduled for next year.

If she wins she will lead her country at the height of Mr Cameron’s EU treaty renegotiation process.

Successive US administrations have long held the view that the UK should participate more fully in the European project.

Last month Barack Obama said he was “looking forward” to the UK staying in the EU “because we think its influence is positive not just for Europe, but also for the world”.

Mr Cameron is currently trying to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership of the EU. He is committed to holding an in-out referendum by the end of 2017.