Theresa May's Speech today....

[Jimgward]

So, despite all this "no deal is better than...." it would appear that a the negotiations are indeed vital, as we have mostly said. No deal, in my opinion, would be a disaster and she is pretty much agreeing here....


Theresa May reverts to Brexit message after social care U-turn
Prime minister relaunches Tory election campaign by focusing on negotiations with Brussels

Theresa May will claim that “economic prosperity will suffer, jobs and livelihoods will be put at risk, and with them the security and peace of mind of working families” if the government fails to secure a successful Brexit negotiation with the European Union.

The prime minister will make the comments in a speech in the West Midlands designed to relaunch her election campaign after the Manchester terror attack and division within her party following her U-turn on social care plans.

Ramping up the language in her warnings about the high-stakes nature of the talks with the EU27, May will say: “If we don’t make a success of Brexit, we won’t have the financial means to fund the public services upon which we all rely. Our National Health Service – the institution which is there for us at the most difficult times – needs us to make a success of Brexit to ensure we can afford to provide it with the resources it needs for the future.

“Every school in every village, town and city needs us to make a success of Brexit.”

She will claim that success is vital to ensure a “sustainable welfare system” and to “go on investing in transport infrastructure – our roads and bridges and railways,” adding: “Everything depends on getting Brexit.”

However, the prime minister made clear during Monday night’s television clash with Jeremy Corbyn that she was prepared to walk away without an agreement, repeatedly saying “no deal is better than a bad deal”.

May will make a pitch at working class voters: “If your patriotism is deemed somehow distasteful, your concerns about immigration dismissed as parochial, your desire for your country to make the decisions that matter to Britain here in Britain ridiculed and ignored for too long.”

She will accuse the EU27 of “adopting an aggressive negotiating position” and will argue that only she can offer the needed strength in the talks that will start 11 days after the general election.

“Jeremy Corbyn is in no position to provide that kind of leadership. He has no plan to deliver Brexit, and he has already admitted he would give control of our borders and control of our laws back to Brussels,” she will add, claiming that the Brexit vote was a “quiet revolution” driven by people who felt left behind.

[PhotoLady]

What was it that Paxman said to describe her last night?

'a blowhard that collapses at the first sign of gunfire'

[Dominic]

UK politics is in a sorry state indeed.

[Jimgward]

UK politics is in a sorry state indeed.

Agreed.

Worst state in many years.

While not necessary, party leaders in the media age, need charisma to inspire us. Sadly, that's all too lacking from the main parties.

When you think of some of the political heavyweights of the past 50 years and we are left in difficult times, with timid or poor leaders, unable to form opinions and carry a party.

[Poppy]

Did you watch Paxman Photolady? I thought he was absolutely terrible with both of them. I hardly think there was a need for such a rude comment and it appeared to me that he was just getting rattled. He asked both of them several times how much they thought the UK should pay to exit the EU and of course neither of them would answer because even if they have a figure in mind they are not going to declare it as it would be sheer suicide in the negotiations. I had absolutely no respect for him as an interviewer at all. I thought Fizal Islam did well leading the audience questions and tried to ensure both leaders answered the questions rather than evading but Paxman is a disgrace and it seems the womans hour on the radio did much better and really had Corbyn on the hop as they had to tell him how much his manifesto pledge for child care was costing as he had not got a clue!! He also did not seem to know whether or not he was still vice president of CND! The problem with Corbyn is that what he believes in is not what his party believes in so he can never win. Re Mrs May I was impressed that when he pressed her on her voting to remain she did not go off at a tangent saying that at least she had not deserted as per Cameron but instead said it was her job to respect the vote of the people.

[PhotoLady]

Yes Poppy, I did end up watching it all the way through when I originally only intended watching it until 9pm... It was the lesser evil than BGT

I'm pleased to see that Jeremy Paxman pushed them both although he did let the PM ramble on for the last 4 minute and she got a bit of an easier ride towards the end of her grilling.

With the Brexit issue, I'm not quite certain how I lie with Theresa May's comments there..... she was a remainer and I assume her thoughts would still be as a remainer. That must be a difficult position to be in if you have to fight for something you don't really believe in or aren't 100% behind it.

I was also watching my Twitter feed at the same time and the comments coming through were quite amusing at times. Several also said they had never considered voting Labour but were impressed with Jeremy Corbyn and their views had been swayed after watching him.

[PhotoLady]

Strong and Stable......

She really wasn't happy at all at this stage.... you can see her face how it changes just before the question comes at her and then she was completely peed off when the "blowhard" phrase came out.

[Poppy]

I should think she was peed off if he had addressed that comment to me I would have kicked him in the goolies - absolutely totally unnecessary. A good interviewer can give anyone a hard time without resorting to insults just as the girl this morning on the Womans hour - she was polite but forceful and that is all that is needed as she certainly succeeded.

[Firefly]

Austin

What do you expect from a pig but a grunt !

Jackie

[Jimgym]

Austin

What do you expect from a pig but a grunt !

Jackie

Thanks, Jackie, that made me laugh!!

[Jimgward]

She's not great looking, but I wouldn't call her a pig....

[Firefly]

Jimgward

So you do have a sense of humour,

Jackie