Theresa May on Brexit

Theresa May's core Brexit position was to implement the outcome of the 2016 referendum, which she accepted despite personally supporting the Remain campaign. Her central objective as Prime Minister was to secure a withdrawal agreement that honoured the vote while forging a new, deep and special partnership with the European Union. She insisted on leaving the Single Market and ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice to regain sovereignty and control immigration, which led to significant domestic political challenges. The complexity of achieving this balance, often described as a 'two-level game,' resulted in her government's repeated failures to secure parliamentary ratification for her proposed deal.

Her approach evolved from a hardline stance to attempts at cross-party compromise, as the lack of a majority in the 2017 general election fatally weakened her negotiating hand domestically and in Brussels. She eventually offered a deal containing ten points, including compromises on workers' rights, environmental protections, and a vote on a second referendum, in a final bid to secure a consensus. Ultimately, her inability to reconcile the demands of Brexiteers, Remainers, and the border issue with Northern Ireland led to her resignation in May 2019, leaving the final Brexit outcome uncertain.