'We're in Hell': Twitter reacts to Theresa May's Road to Brexit speech
The #RoadtoBrexit will be a rocky one...
Theresa May reiterated her vision for Brexit during a wide-ranging speech at Mansion House this afternoon, which touched on proposals for the Irish border, ECJ rules and a future customs arrangement with the European Union.
The embattled Prime Minister has promised the best trade deal "anywhere in the world" as she attempts to clear up public confusion on her government's negotiating position.
She acknowledged that access to the single market would be "less than it is now," but added that the "jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK must end".
Her speech conceded that leaving the single market would have a major effect on the country, and proclaimed "life is going to be different."
Parliament would remain ultimately sovereign #RoadtoBrexit pic.twitter.com/rSSSviqBA5
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 2, 2018
A tweet by YouGov illustrates how off-key her messages on Brexit has been as of late, something the Prime Minister hoped to reverse.
With Theresa May about to set out the government's Brexit position in her speech, the last month has seen a 12 point drop in the proportion of people who think the Conservative's policy on Brexit is clear pic.twitter.com/cWtIBBPYb6
— YouGov (@YouGov) March 2, 2018
The Irish border can be seen as the acid test for Brexit - but detailed policy has been scant. Ms. May says she favours a technological solution to avoid a hard border.
We will not let our departure from the EU do anything to set back the historic progress we have made in Northern Ireland #RoadtoBrexit pic.twitter.com/1VHJPoqhtj
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 2, 2018
Theresa May's position on the future of the Irish border is a bit like Facebook's on handling trolls: "Technology will be the answer. No, that technology doesn't exist yet, but please start believing in it already."
— Wolfgang Blau (@wblau) March 2, 2018
She also outlined five "tests" which any deal would have to pass.
BREAKING: Theresa May spells out 5 main tests for any Brexit deal between Britain and EU https://t.co/Z7IPX0dNkZ pic.twitter.com/oQYd3lYv0S
— Bloomberg (@business) March 2, 2018
It appears her words have partially satisfied negotiators in in Brussels who are at least clear the UK government will exit the customs union in 2019.
I welcome PM @theresa_may speech. Clarity about #UK leaving Single Market and Customs Union & recognition of trade-offs will inform #EUCO guidelines re: future FTA.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 2, 2018
Guy Verhofstadt on PM’s speech: Theresa May needed to move beyond vague aspirations, we can only hope that serious proposals have been put in the post
— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) March 2, 2018
But there were some who pointed out there were quite a few contradictions in the Road to Brexit speech.
.@theresa_may promises not to lower regulatory standards for industrial goods - while simultaneously saying we retain the right to do so. Macron and Merkel may be confused
— Robert Peston (@Peston) March 2, 2018
She reaffirms that we'll do our own trade deals, but then says we want frictionless trade and open border in Ireland. The unicorns live.
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 2, 2018
May now ruling out CU. "It would mean we have less control than we do now." May finally understanding the grotesque choices Brexit entails.
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 2, 2018
Many were unimpressed by the address and said failed to outline a better and brighter future for the UK.
I mean, I quite like the whole "we can make this not dreadful!" mission. But Christ, is that all they've got?
— Hugo Rifkind (@hugorifkind) March 2, 2018
That was a speech that was close to impossible to write. The mixture of boring, platitudinous and abstraction was all she could do, to postpone the real fight again.
— Philip Collins (@PCollinsTimes) March 2, 2018
May is like the captain of a plane that’s about about to crash. I think she’s come to the view the last thing the passengers want is detail.
— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) March 2, 2018
Theresa May:
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 2, 2018
Says she'll deliver some hard truths
Theresa May answering questions:
Repeats over and over again about no-longer sending money to the EU but fails to mention just how much poorer we'll be according to her government's own predictions#RoadtoBrexit
While Labour also had a pop at the Prime Minister in its Twiter response.
In @Theresa_May's Mansion House speech, she has been talking about her first speech as Prime Minister. Let's look at her record since then. #RoadtoBrexit pic.twitter.com/Q4mBRBdvjK
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) March 2, 2018
Though there were some who broadly welcomed some clearer proposals.
That was Theresa May's best Brexit speech to date. Serious, detailed and (mostly) based in reality. Optimistic but not overly so. Confirmation UK will stay in key agencies. ECJ red line further blurred. But a pretty large and bitter bill for Brexiters to swallow. #roadtobrexit
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) March 2, 2018
Good speech - loving how much it's annoying Lord Adonis.
— Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) March 2, 2018
If it feels like we've heard this all before then you are not alone....
Just occurred to me there is no Brexit. There is no European Union. We're in Hell. This is Hell. Endless debate on an utterly intractable problem. It's our punishment for spending time on Twitter.
— Padraig Reidy (@mePadraigReidy) March 2, 2018
She's wrapping up now. We're in the same place we were this morning.
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 2, 2018
Well, at least here was time for some jokes.
Neat gin, and who can blame her? pic.twitter.com/pKGqGTbjgk
— Damon Wake (@damonwake) March 2, 2018
Translation of Theresa May’s speech:
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) March 2, 2018
I realise I can’t deliver what Brexiteers want, but please go easy on me and let me have something they might accept so I can resign in a couple of years, rather than being forced out.#RoadtoBrexit
I'm here at Theresa May's speech (it's a bit crap so far, isn't it?) and I'm doing my best to remind her of my existence. pic.twitter.com/y8hhYA1DAD
— The Irish Border (@BorderIrish) March 2, 2018
