Express & Star

Star comment: May must be firm and determined

As we approach the first anniversary of the EU referendum, it is worth reflecting on the fact that some of the attitudes against Brexit appear to be hardening – especially after the General Election result.

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Theresa May

If you watch TV news bulletins, read certain sections of the national press, and especially if you look at social media, you could be forgiven for thinking the General Election was a re-run of the referendum.

Our habitually left-wing broadcast media, led by the BBC, would have us believe that Theresa May’s plan for Brexit is now dead in the water.

Insidiously and disingenuously they have coined the terms ‘hard Brexit’ and ‘soft Brexit’ when they know so-called soft Brexit means no Brexit at all.

This is a desperate attempt by embittered Remainers to pull the wool over the eyes of the British voting public.

The EU referendum ballot didn’t contain three options: Remain, Leave, and Leave a little bit.

It was a clear black and white question. And what the British people are looking for is a clear black and white approach to the negotiations that started yesterday.

It appears to be open season on Theresa May, with the embattled Prime Minister facing the blame for everything from the Tory election fiasco – which it must be said she is highly culpable – to the appalling tragedy at Grenfell Tower.

The Prime Minister is not coming across as either strong or stable – that much mocked mantra of her dreadful election campaign. Rather, she resembles a national punching bag for the baying mob of anti-Tory protesters who stormed the offices of Kensington and Chelsea Council buoyed by the crass and calculated opportunism of Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan.

The test for the Prime Minister now is to show us she has the mettle to lead this country with firmness and determination.

She needs to stick up for herself, her party, and the Brexit deal.

She must not be swayed by the baying and braying voices of the media bubble.

It must also be noted that during the election both Mrs May’s Conservatives and Mr Corbyn’s Labour stood on a Brexit ticket – meaning eight out of 10 voters gave Brexit an overwhelming mandate while the anti-Brexit politics of the Lib Dems, the Greens and the SNP were firmly rejected.

As Mrs May has said on multiple occasions, Brexit must mean Brexit.