This week we are proud and pleased to announce the first ever repeat winner of the Hall of Shame award. Despite strong competition from Michael “let’s boost drug company exports by exporting the drug companies” Gove and Arron “let’s promote a healthy debate by getting rid of all the MPs who disagree with us” Banks, there really could only be one winner.
Step forward, Theresa May.
Keen to show that when it comes to the Brexit negotiations, Britain is determined to be a good sport, as long as the sport in question is gurning, Theresa May has triggered Article 50 and stepped forward into a bold new future.
And immediately put her foot in it.
With a lack of subtlety and good manners that would have made Boris Johnson blush, her letter to the EU warned them that security co-operation would be at risk if they didn’t give her what she wanted.
This isn’t a game of poker – the EU know the hand Theresa May is holding, and how weak is her position. She has surrendered any cards that would have given her any leverage – the date of Article 50, the red line she has set over the jurisdiction of EU courts – and now is left having to try to construct some leverage out of the wreckage she has created. To attempt to blackmail the EU over security is to hold a gun to her own head, and repeatedly stressing the “deep and special” relationship between the UK and the EU does little to prevent relations being soured at the start of negotiations that will require good grace and almost infinite patience from all parties.
A bad start. We at CoN Towers suspect we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Mrs. May in these awards over the coming months.
Artwork by Alexis Taylor
