Hanging by a thread? W


HEN THERESA MAY called the General Election, she calculated that the result would strengthen her in Parliament and demonstrate public


support for her approach to Brexit – which is to prioritise border control and withdrawal from the European Court of Justice over free movement and access to the single market. Politically, this would show her negotiating


intentions to the EU; take the wind from the sails of the SNP’s promise of a second independence referendum; and increase her majority, destroying the threat of UKIP and giving her more room for manoeuvre against the determined Brexiteers. May seemed politically unassailable when she announced the election, but the campaign exposed her fragility. That was partly because of the sudden momentum Jeremy Corbyn developed as a campaign leader, and partly because some of his policies proved popular. He seems to have done extremely well with young voters; and turnout in their demographic unusually was high. But it was also because of May’s obvious weaknesses. She found it difficult to range much beyond repeating a “strong and stable leadership” mantra, she rapidly u-turned on payments for social care; and perhaps, voters found her lack of personality off-putting. She took them for granted. Chance for a rethink


In one sense, a very close result exposes the absurdity of Brexit. Both main political parties have been guided in the last year primarily by concerns of domestic politics. Neither, therefore, has treated


16 SOCIETY NOW SUMMER 2017


Will the failure of Prime Minister Theresa May’s election gamble lead to a change in the politics of Brexit? Perhaps, but it would take political will. By Dr Helen Parr


Brexit as a profound national challenge; and neither has seriously brought to public attention the hard compromises and concessions Britain might have to make to get the deal that Theresa May seemed to want – and that Jeremy Corbyn whipped his MPs to support in Parliament. The fact that Brexit has hardly played at all during the election suggests that – as was the case in the past – most voters are agnostic about Britain’s relations with the EU, all other things being equal. Therefore, the result could be interpreted as


a rejection of May’s vision of Brexit, and Britain could now rethink its opening negotiating position. Conservative remainers could force May out and insist on a much more diplomatic position towards the EU. Labour could choose to put pressure on the Conservatives by calling out the impossibility of sustaining the economic benefits of the single market while refusing to accept free movement or the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Corbyn could style himself as a modern-


? Does the UK have to pay the EU more money?


One of the main sticking points in the negotiations will be the amount of money the UK has to settle with the EU because of the financial commitments already undertaken by the UK as a member of the EU. Many numbers are floating around, but the actual sum is still unclear as the extent of the UK’s liabilities is controversial and there are differing legal opinions on the matter. The two sides will agree on a methodology before entering into detailed discussions.


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