Opinion: Is Boris Johnson accidentally helping to strengthen Theresa May's position? Political Editor Richard Porritt wonders if the law of unintended consequences is applying once again...

Did the prime minister really 'beg' for help from Jean-Claude Juncker in a bid to break the Brexit stalemate?

Leaks from the dinner between Theresa May and the European Commission chief printed in German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) painted a fairly desperate picture.

The paper claimed Mrs May 'begged for help' saying friends and foes alike were plotting behind the scenes in Westminster in to a bid to topple her premiership.

The source said she was 'anxious … tormented … despondent and discouraged' and commented on the dark circles beneath her eyes. The incredibly detailed account went on to claim that she was once a leader that was relaxed enough to share a laugh at the meetings but now had to work hard not to lose her temper.

Those around the PM are worried about her. She is feeling the strain in the wake of the calamitous conference. All Number 10's hopes were pinned to a dominant conference and yet the policy ideas went with a whimper, Boris Johnson filled the airwaves and then there was the worst speech in British political history.

Aides fear for her. But if that speech proved anything it was this: Mrs May is no quitter.

War time aside this must be one of the most stressful periods in British history to be in Downing Street. It is hardly surprising that Mrs May did not spring in to the dinner with Mr Juncker cracking jokes and high-fiving everyone in the room.

Afterwards both parties released statements saying they had agreed to 'accelerate' Brexit talks. Something of a victory for Mrs May.

Since her speech in Florence there has been a softening of the relationship between Brussels and Number 10. The same might not be true between Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator and Brexit secretary David Davis, but there is some positive movement happening above their impasse.

And now Mrs May and the EU share a common enemy it seems: The blond bombshell of Brexit Mr Johnson. Plans for a tilt at Number 10 began almost as soon as he pulled out of the last leadership race. The ambition has never diminished, in fact the deep anger he felt at being stabbed in the back by Michael Gove has sparked a new drive.

For that reason he needs to be a clear alternative to Mrs May – offer something different. And all his Churchillian, flag-waving fantasies still might come true. Behind the scenes figures including Vote Leave campaign chief Dominic Cummings are offering Mr Johnson regular counsel. Mr Cummings, an acutely intelligent operator, has been vicious about the way the government is handling Brexit. If he can help orchestrate a change at the top he will.

But this worries the EU. Ideally they want a weakened Mrs May to continue. They feel they can get more out of her but also Mr Barnier et al believe she is unlikely to risk a hard Brexit for fear of the ramifications if it goes wrong. Being forced to adopt World Trade Organisation tariffs is high risk for Britain – and for Europe. They need us too.

So perhaps Mrs May's despondency over dinner was all a clever ruse? Is this a bid to garner sympathy and strike fear in the shape of the tousle-haired foreign secretary?

In the current political climate it is impossible to predict the outcome of seemingly insignificant actions. Did Nick Clegg's unabashed student vote grab in 2010 lead to David Cameron's majority in 2015 and in turn force his hand on a Brexit referendum? Will George Osborne's austerity policies bring down Mrs May's government? And will Mr Johnson's power play spook the EU into conceding more to Mrs May?

The Brexit negotiations could hinge on whether Mrs May can steady the ship. Expect the soft Brexiteers in the cabinet – Amber Rudd, Philip Hammond – to recognise this and start to get behind the PM. Mr Johnson's attempts to destabilise his leader might just prop her up.