The prime minister has once again refused to say whether she had changed her mind after the Brexit debate in 2016 and now supported the UK leaving the EU, despite leading the government in its hard-line approach.
Theresa May quietly campaigned for Remain in the referendum campaign, but now says in public that the UK will have a “bright future” outside of the European Union.
However, during her tour of the UK today on the anniversary of triggering Article 50 earlier today, May was pressed by the BBC whether she thought the referendum result was the best choice for Britain, she dodged the question. She said: “I campaigned for Remain, but I, as I said at the time, it was a very balanced decision.
“I said, you know, some were predicting great problems if people voted for Brexit. I said the sky won’t fall in, but it will be different and it will be different.
“Now, what I’m charged with as Prime Minister is delivering on that Brexit vote we will leave the European Union on 29th March 2019 in a year’s time, but also ensuring that as we do so we take the opportunities that will become available to us. I think there are real opportunities.”
This is not the first time the leader of the hardline pro-Brexit government has avoided direct questions as to whether Brexit is the best decision for the UK – last year she told LBC “Well, I voted Remain for good reasons at the time, but circumstances move on”.
It is understandable why May refuses to say Brexit is a better choice than remaining within the European Union, after it has become clear from the government’s own assessments that the move will make Britons significantly poorer for very little in return. However, the reason that she still continues down this path, knowing that it is bad for the country demonstrates a severe weakness of character and poor leadership skills.
