The Florence speech
Brussels gave a tentative welcome last week to a speech by Theresa May in Florence, in which she set out plans to keep Britain in the EU in all but name until 2021. In an emollient address, the Prime Minister proposed that the UK, after formally leaving the EU in March 2019, should continue to follow the bloc’s rules and pay into its budget for a transition period of “around two years”. She signalled that these extra budget contributions (which would amount to some s20bn) would be part of a larger exit payment, and also offered to enshrine the rights of EU citizens living in the UK by treaty.
The PM had hoped that the speech would help kick-start the stalled Brexit negotiations, but EU leaders insisted this week that more clarity was needed before the two sides could move on to discussing a possible transition period, or their future trading relationship. Hopes that the speech might draw a line under Tory infighting also proved unfounded. Over the weekend, supporters of Boris Johnson suggested he had fought off attempts by the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, to secure a transition of up to five years – a claim furiously denied by Hammond’s allies.
What the editorials said
Last Friday, the PM stepped into an inspiring Florentine venue, said The Observer – only to deliver a speech to a roomful of British hacks, in front of a dreary grey backdrop. It was a “fitting metaphor” for a much-hyped speech whose “laboured” Renaissance references failed to mask “a lack of vision”. May did at least acknowledge the need for a transition period, but this was “always inevitable, and should have been her position a year ago”. May did more than that, said The Sun. She also made “generous commitments” on budget contributions, EU citizens and security co-operation. Yet still, EU leaders are stonewalling us with demands for “more clarity”. We must stop playing their “childish games” and step up the contingency planning for a no-deal scenario.
Remainers have to accept that Britain is leaving the EU in 18 months’ time, said The Independent. The sort of dramatic shift in public opinion that would be needed to avert it is unlikely to happen. But a two-year transition period may yet provide us with enough time to devise a new form of associate EU membership. The longer we can put off our rupture with the EU, the “more chance there is that good sense, or a compromise, or just events, will intervene”.