PM: What does ‘Brexit’ mean?

Theresa May must provide clarity

THOSE WHO voted for Britain to leave the European Union will be relieved to learn that Theresa May has ruled out a second referendum, even though the new PM campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU.

They will also be reassured by Mrs May’s insistence, at the start of yesterday’s special session of the Cabinet to discuss Brexit, that there will be no “back room deals” to stay in the EU – her stridency was at odds with the weak tone of a briefing document being carelessly carried by an aide when its contents were photographed.

However such reassurances will only go so far. Mrs May’s now familiar ‘Brexit means Brexit’ soundbite, first uttered at the start of the Tory leadership contest and repeated again at the start of the Cabinet meeting, still remains undefined – the new PM will be duty-bound, at some point in the near future, to explain her vision in greater detail, not least whether Britain will, from a trading perspective seek to stay in the single market.

Given the level of mistrust in politicians, and how the likes of Labour leadership contender Owen Smith seem reluctant to express the will of the people from June 23, a case can be made for a Parliamentary vote which binds MPs and peers to the decision.

From there, Mrs May and her team – headed by Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis who has been uncharacteristically silent since being handed the Brexit brief – can start involving their political opponents, and experts from all walks to life, to identify the priorities and opportunities so that no sector of the economy, from manufacturing to hill farming, is compromised.

In many respects, these issues are too important to be left to party politics – it should be up to each and every MP to acknowledge the electorate’s exasperated verdict and work together to secure the best deal in these unique circumstances.