The day May and Blair grabbed the Brexit People by the opportunities

Yesterday was a special day. In the words of Gerard Batten, Ukip’s interim leader: “It’s exactly 12 months until the day that we don’t really leave the EU.”

To celebrate, Theresa May did a whistle-stop tour, taking in all four nations of the UK. She visited Ayr in Scotland, Barry in Wales, Newcastle in England and Bangor in Northern Ireland. It felt fitting that she should spend the Northern Irish leg about as far from the border as is possible.

The Prime Minister gave no speeches, but did pause to say the word “opportunities” over and again to camera. “The opportunities that Brexit provides … great opportunities … real opportunities … opportunities for agriculture … opportunities for other sectors … take the opportunities … grasp the opportunities … seize the opportunities …” According to psychologists there’s a phenomenon called semantic satiation, in which the listener hears a word repeated so often that it loses all meaning, and becomes no more than a noise.

I think I know the feeling.

Mrs May granted an interview to the BBC. It was the usual model of clarity.

BBC: “How will you pay for your NHS pledge?”

Mrs May: “What I’m clear about is we do want a multiyear funding settlement for the NHS.”

BBC: “How will you pay for it?”

Mrs May: “Yes, it will be partly about money.”

During the referendum campaign Mrs May said the UK would be better off staying in the EU. The BBC asked her whether she’d changed her mind. She gave an answer of 165 words, not one of which was “yes”. Still, she did say that after Brexit life would be “different”. I assume she meant in a good way. At any rate, there were going to be “opportunities … real opportunities …”

In London, a conference was held to mark yesterday’s milestone. Among the speakers were Nigel Farage (resplendent in Union flag socks) and Tony Blair. For some reason, Mr Blair kept referring to Leave voters as “the Brexit people”.

“If you stay close to Europe, you’re going to disappoint the Brexit people … I think the deal will offend some of the Brexit people … One of the things I say to the Brexit people is …”

An odd phrase. It made it sound as if he were talking about some primitive Amazonian tribe. (“Darling, I’ve just read the most fascinating article. It’s about this explorer who set out in search of the Brexit people. Have you heard of them? They live miles from civilisation … in Hartlepool.”)

Back to Mrs May. In Bangor she held a meeting with a group of farmers. Sky News spoke to one of them.

Sky News: “Did you get any answers that you hadn’t heard her say before?”

Farmer: “I think we’d have to say no.”

I hope Mrs May told him to cheer up and focus on the opportunities … opportunities … opportunities … opportunities … opportunities … opportunities…