May has been criticized in some quarters for keeping her cards close to her chest with regards to her plans for Brexit. The clearest hints about the direction that she intends to take came in a speech in mid-January and with the letter delivered to the EU to trigger the Brexit process at the end of March.
On January 17, May announced a 12-point Brexit plan focused on regaining control over laws and immigration alongside confirmation that the U.K. would leave the single market and that in her view “no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal.”
The letter on March 29 repeatedly emphasized the U.K.’s wish to pursue a “deep and special partnership” with the EU, however, in acknowledging that a failure to agree a deal would mean a reversion to World Trade Organization trade terms, May’s continued stance regarding her preference for “no deal” over a “bad deal” was clear.
“We want a deep and special partnership between a strong and successful European Union and a United Kingdom that is free to chart its own way in the world,” said May on Tuesday.
“That means we will regain control of our own money, our own laws and our own borders and we will be free to strike trade deals with old friends and new partners all around the world,” she added.
“This is the right approach, and it is in the national interest. But the other political parties oppose it,” the prime minister declared.
As of April 13, May’s Conservative party held a strong lead over rivals in the latest survey carried out by pollster YouGov/Times which asked the question: “If there was a general election tomorrow, which party would you vote for?”.
The poll showed the right-wing Conservatives with 44 percent of the vote, leading left-wing Labour on 23 percent, Liberal Democrats on 12 percent and the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) on 10 percent.
Avoid a disastrous hard Brexit?
Opposition leaders were quickly out of the gates on Tuesday to begin their campaigns.
“Labour will be offering the country an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS (National Health Service),” said Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour party on Facebook, studiously avoiding any mention of Brexit.
“This election is your chance to change the direction of our country. If you want to avoid a disastrous hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is your chance. Only the Liberal Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority,” pledged Tim Farron, leader of the third-largest party traditionally in the U.K., the Liberal Democrats, in an official statement.
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, who has plagued May of late with calls for another Scottish independence referendum, called the announcement “one of the most extraordinary U-turns in recent political history,” in an official statement.
“The Tories see a chance to move the U.K. to the right, force through a hard Brexit and impose deeper cuts. Let’s stand up for Scotland,” Sturgeon added in a tweet.
