NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Brexit talks: May defiant as critics accuse her of losing control

By Karla Adam
Washington Post·
22 Oct, 2018 09:37 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to the House of Commons. Photo / AP

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to the House of Commons. Photo / AP

Amid growing anger over her leadership, Prime Minister Theresa May struck a defiant tone today, insisting that Brexit negotiations are 95 per cent done and that the final product would amount to a good deal for Britain.

May has faced harsh criticism from Brexit hardliners, who say she is ceding control to the European Union; from political rivals, who say she has lost command over her own party; and from those who want to remain in the EU and say she is denying the people of Britain control over their future.

"The shape of the deal across the vast majority of the withdrawal agreement is now clear," May told Parliament, adding that her government has been making progress in talks with negotiators across the English Channel.

But that last 5 per cent is no small thing.

Indeed, how to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and Ireland, an EU member, is "a real sticking point," May conceded.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It has been this way for months.

"It's basically Groundhog Day, every single day," said Rob Ford, a politics professor at the University of Manchester.

"The Irish border? How do we solve it? Who knows? Everyone has a big row. Wake up the next day, like Bill Murray, you hear the same song."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Britain is set to leave the EU in just five months.

If the two sides don't strike a divorce deal, Britain risks exiting the EU without one - a doomsday scenario that could have serious implications for the economy and daily life.

Two years after Britons voted 52 per cent to 48 per cent in favour of leaving the EU, Brexit continues to be a highly divisive issue.

The FT View: Whether you agree with the prime minister's Brexit strategy or not, few would dispute that she is trying to do what she believes is in the UK's best interests.

A calmer attitude is badly needed to cool down Britain's political debate. https://t.co/G0iLmruCUG pic.twitter.com/tUjvoneMFp

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) October 22, 2018

At the weekend, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against Brexit and call for a "people's vote."

Discover more

World

Body double: CCTV reveals man wearing slain journalist's clothes

22 Oct 05:12 PM
World

Lioness at zoo kills father of her cubs

22 Oct 05:35 PM
World

A song of ice and fear

22 Oct 06:00 PM
World

Longest sea-crossing bridge to open

22 Oct 06:39 PM

Organisers estimated that 700,000 people turned out, which would make it the largest protest in Britain since the start of the Iraq War.

Still, it was noteworthy that none of the featured speakers were leading members of the ruling Conservative or opposition Labour party.

May further enraged her critics in recent days when she indicated that she would be open to extending the Brexit "transition period" beyond the proposed timeline of December 2020. This is deeply unpopular with the hardliners, who think this would leave Britain in the position of a "vassal state."

"The whole country is waiting for a plan that works for Britain, not another fudge, kicking the can down the road to keep her party in power," Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, said in Parliament today.

May's political future appears unstable amid allegations of plots to oust her.

"It sounds like a government and a Prime Minister that is losing control."

Jeremy Corbyn says the Government is extending the Brexit transition period "because of its own incompetence", but Theresa May says she's "looking and working for the right deal in the national interest". pic.twitter.com/z2snJuuP88

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 22, 2018

In the weekend British papers, unnamed MPs were quoted using savage imagery to describe a possible coup, with some saying that "assassination is in the air" and that May should "bring her own noose" to an upcoming meeting.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But the remarks may have backfired. Their tone - if not the substance - was condemned by politicians from all parties.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, said, "Few disagree with her more than I do, but language like this debases politics. Get a grip, Tories."

Many of those who took exception to the remarks referenced Jo Cox, the Labour MP who was killed in 2016 by a right-wing extremist. There were also calls to unmask the MPs who made the purported comments.

Many analysts say it's unlikely that May will be ousted just yet.

This by ⁦@theresa_may⁩ on her NI backstop red line is declaration UK is on way to no-deal Brexit, because EU leaders confirmed last week that her preferred “temporary UK-wide customs territory with EU” cannot be legally binding in Withdrawal Agreement & cannot be temporary pic.twitter.com/BuhGgvmnU4

— Robert Peston (@Peston) October 22, 2018

Forty-eight Conservative MPs have to submit letters to trigger a vote of no confidence, but many think that - in the current climate at least - May would probably win that vote.

And despite all the mudslinging from the sidelines, there isn't an obvious successor.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Boris Johnson, the former Foreign Secretary, may be hugely popular among the Conservative grassroots, but many doubt that his preferred Brexit deal would win the support of Parliament.

"If you got the poisoned chalice of negotiating Brexit, you might as well keep Theresa May as prime minister, because there isn't a successor who could unite the party," said Jonathan Tonge, a professor of politics at the University of Liverpool.

"A Boris Johnson-led Administration would hit the buses within weeks," Tonge said. "Theresa May is at least still managing to juggle the plates."

Amber Rudd says it would be “total indulgence” for the Conservatives to have a leadership election right now #newsnight | @AmberRuddHR |@KirstyWark | #brexit pic.twitter.com/wTi3pnk0rk

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 22, 2018
Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

Cricket

IPL suspended amid India-Pakistan tensions

09 May 09:49 AM
World

Watch: AI video of road rage victim used in court, killer gets max sentence

09 May 07:23 AM
World

'Very negative': Son of alleged mushroom poisoner shares claims about parents in court

09 May 06:50 AM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

IPL suspended amid India-Pakistan tensions

IPL suspended amid India-Pakistan tensions

09 May 09:49 AM

New schedule details will follow after assessing the situation.

Watch: AI video of road rage victim used in court, killer gets max sentence

Watch: AI video of road rage victim used in court, killer gets max sentence

09 May 07:23 AM
'Very negative': Son of alleged mushroom poisoner shares claims about parents in court

'Very negative': Son of alleged mushroom poisoner shares claims about parents in court

09 May 06:50 AM
Australian police arrest dozens over LGBTQ dating app-linked assaults

Australian police arrest dozens over LGBTQ dating app-linked assaults

09 May 04:02 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP