Читать книгу My Secret Brexit Diary - Michel Barnier - Страница 20

Following a fortnight of political upheaval, Theresa May enters 10 Downing Street as David Cameron’s successor. The daughter of a vicar, like Angela Merkel she has the reputation of being a tenacious and determined woman. Equipped with experience gained as Home Secretary in David Cameron’s government, Mrs May is, after Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s second female Prime Minister. Like the ‘Iron Lady’, as a minister she had no qualms about taking very tough positions, openly admitting that she wanted to create a ‘hostile environment’ to discourage illegal immigration, for instance. She also advocated the UK’s withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. During the referendum campaign she paid lip service to Remain, while leaving room for ambiguity. The new Prime Minister now says that she intends to ‘make a success of Brexit’. She declares herself in favour of a clean break: ‘There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum.’

The government is expanded with the introduction of a new portfolio: Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The position is given to David Davis, a staunch Conservative whom I know, as he was my counterpart as Minister of State for Europe between 1995 and 1997. At the time, we were both members of the Westendorp Group responsible for drafting the Treaty of Amsterdam. There is a larger-than-life side to David, a heartiness even – a sign of great self-confidence. Since working together, he has become a staunch Eurosceptic and an advocate of a ‘hard’ Brexit. It seems this will be a hard-fought game.

Theresa May appears to be well aware of the challenge that lies ahead: ‘[O]ur country needs strong, proven leadership – to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union.’ ‘We will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world.’