The race is on to throw Theresa May under the bus, with a number of people, who should be backing the British Prime Minister -- or at least cooperating with her -- competing to blow apart her crappy political career.
Top of the list is President Donald Trump, famous for holding hands with May during their first summit. This time, in an interview with Rupert Murdoch's Sun newspaper, released just after he had enjoyed May's hospitality, the US President savaged the embattled British PM, saying that May's new soft Brexit blueprint would "kill" any future trade deal with the United States.
As reported by The Sun:
"His fiercest criticism came over the centrepiece of the PM’s new Brexit plan — which was unveiled in full yesterday. It would stick to a common rulebook with Brussels on goods and agricultural produce in a bid to keep customs borders open with the EU. But Mr Trump told The Sun: “If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal...
He explained: “We have enough difficulty with the European Union. We are cracking down right now on the European Union because they have not treated the United States fairly on trading. No, if they do that I would say that that would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States.”
Trump also seemed to be lining up May’s successor, going out of his way to praise the former British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, who resigned in protest at May's Brexit plans.
“I have a lot of respect for Boris. He obviously likes me, and says very good things about me. I was very saddened to see he was leaving government and I hope he goes back in at some point. I think he is a great representative for your country.”
Asked if Johnson might be Prime Minister one day, he replied:
"Well I am not pitting one against the other. I am just saying I think he would be a great Prime Minister. I think he’s got what it takes."
But bad as this sounds, it seems that Trump was the least of May's problems.
On the same day, Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, made it clear that the EU wasn't about to make May's life easier by throwing her a bone.
In fact, it was quite the reverse, with Barnier strongly hinting that the British Government’s long-awaited Brexit White Paper, setting out May's blueprint for the country’s hoped-for future relationship with Brussels, would run up against the EU's "red lines" -- points on which it couldn't compromise.
In fact, it was quite the reverse, with Barnier strongly hinting that the British Government’s long-awaited Brexit White Paper, setting out May's blueprint for the country’s hoped-for future relationship with Brussels, would run up against the EU's "red lines" -- points on which it couldn't compromise.
According to Barnier the deal is an attempt to "cherry pick" parts of the EU rule book.
Meanwhile, on the home front, members of Theresa May's own Conservative Party were rising in revolt against her, saying that her plan did not respect the result of the referendum.
The influential European Research Group of Tory MPs, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, blasted the White paper, comparing it to feudal vassalage, and presenting several amendments that are designed to derail the plan and undermine the PM's position.
"This is the greatest vassalage since King John paid homage to Phillip II at Le Goulet in 1200," Rees-Mogg told reporters. "It is a pale imitation of the paper prepared by David Davis, a bad deal for Britain. It is not something I would vote for nor is it what the British people voted for."
