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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how anyone can justify the fact Theresa May categorically refused to say she thinks Brexit is a good idea

129 replies

Bearbehind · 29/05/2017 22:04

Seriously, the Prime Minister has basically just said she doesn't agree with Brexit but 'it's the will of the people' so she'll carry on regardless.

Doesn't that make anyone think twice?

OP posts:
WrongTrouser · 30/05/2017 09:28

Tara Please look at the numerous polls published on whether more than a tiny number of people (on both sides) have changed their mind on their referendum vote. (Short answer if you don't want to look at the polls - no, they haven't).

BakewellSliceAgain · 30/05/2017 09:29

I knew this already.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 30/05/2017 10:42

I'm astounded that people equate me thinking Brexit is a shit idea but resigning myself to the fact it's going to happen and TM doing the same.

I'm not asking for you to vote for me to implement it?!

I'm not telling the EU I'll be walking into negiotiations thinking it's a stupid idea that I don't believe in.

I'm not constantly repeating the mantra 'it's the will of the people' with the sole intention of passing on the blame when it all goes wrong.

Did you not find it more than a little odd that when questioned last night TM said they would consult on the level of a cap for her dementia tax but has steadfastedly refused to consult on anything Brexit related?

OP posts:
Two4One2017 · 30/05/2017 10:45

Bear -

Both TM and JC campaigned for Remain, with about as much enthusiasm as each other. I don't understand your point? They would both go into negotiations having been on the 'losing' side in the campaign....

On Brexit, their positions are almost identical.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 30/05/2017 10:47

its not her fault, fucking David Cameron opened the gates to Hell here, not her

why should she lie

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 30/05/2017 10:48

Wouldn't "respecting the will of the people" require not overturning the ban on fox hunting?

in the grand scheme of things I could give a flying fuck about fox hunting, and I am a veggie. I just think its taking up airspace

ErrolTheDragon · 30/05/2017 10:50

If anyone was going to try the 'second chance to get it right' approach, it would have to have been Labour (LibDem are just too small and terminally crippled by bloody first past the post and the faux high-principled idiots who can't see that Clegg did far more good than harm in the coalition) - they don't have such a troublesome Eurosceptic wing within their party. Problem is that the ones with a Eurosceptic bent are now the ones in control of the party, JC included. And they wouldn't dare alienate the working class brexiteer vote. If I could choose not doing brexit (assuming a second referendum went that way, which isn't certain and the bloody issue would not then go away quietly) but the price was JC, with his choice of Chancellor and Home Secretary (given that they do not have a magic money tree to fund their lovely socialist wishlist) - I'm darned if I know which would be preferable. The combination of brexit and corbyn ...

Fuck, I'm depressed. Sad

metspengler · 30/05/2017 11:40

So her position during the debate is not a secret and never has been. The fact that's she's not coming out to against it when it is literally part of her job to respect the verdict handed down by the electorate and implement it, is a sign of professionalism and democratic sentiment.

Banging on about how bad Brexit is would be a sign she was unworthy of/unsuited to the position and should resign.

MassDebate · 30/05/2017 11:51

I actually think the fact she is anti-Brexit should work in our favour on the negotiations over a leave deal. She isn't going to do a deal just to get us out if it means economic suicide for the country. Why should she pretend she thinks Brexit is a good idea anyway? You can still be anti-Brexit but respect the democratic leave result (even if it sucks).

I'm not voting Tory btw but I don't think TM should be criticised on this.

waitforitfdear · 30/05/2017 11:57

I think her position is perfectly fair op. At least she didn't resign in a hissy fit like Cameron and is up for negotiating our exit.

Everyone I know who voted either leave or stay hasn't changed their minds in fact both are even more entrenched.

The Lib dem position is ludicrous however and Tim Farron on radio 5 live this morning was embarrassing talking about his fundamental Christian beliefs.

CrazedZombie · 30/05/2017 11:57

I think that she's doing the right thing by going along with what people voted for. I don't agree with the result (or the referendum) but this is a democracy and that is the most important thing.

BakewellSliceAgain · 30/05/2017 13:28

Yes, Cameron for all his smoothness was a hollow man.

peachgreen · 30/05/2017 13:33

There are very few politicians who actually think it's a good idea - even some of the key Remainers were just using the campaign to boost their own political careers (Gove, Johnson) and didn't think it had a chance in hell of getting through. Hence why nobody really wanted to lead the Tory party through the process and we ended up with TM as the best of a very bad bunch! (It's very telling that the vast majority of people "in the know" think Brexit is a bad idea, but there we are.)

Unfortunately not only did the majority (albeit a narrow majority) vote for Brexit, polls show that a lot of Remainers now think we should follow through and leave. It would be political suicide for anyone to try to reverse the decision, no matter their personal opinions. I suppose in a way we should be pleased that TM is sticking to her guns and not saying that it's a great idea - but I take your point about it giving her a future scapegoat, OP. Insider rumblings suggest that there will be another General Election post-Brexit before the impact really becomes clear as whichever party is in charge at the time of Brexit won't have a hope of getting back in once the negative ramifications become obvious. Ultimately it's all just an exercise in covering of backs.

Ravenblack · 30/05/2017 13:36

I don't understand what the OP is raving about! May voted for Remain and supported Remain, but she knows the will of the people is to leave, and she is going to respect that and do the best for the country and its people.

What's the problem? Confused

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 30/05/2017 13:39

Seriously, the Prime Minister has basically just said she doesn't agree with Brexit but 'it's the will of the people' so she'll carry on regardless

Doesn't that make anyone think twice?

No, because I understand how democracy works which clearly you don't. I voted remain but you don't get a second chance ( unless of course you are Sturgeon who will bang on and on)

twofingerstoEverything · 30/05/2017 13:45

What's the problem?
The 'problem' is surely that she should be able to tell us why it will be good for the country. She is now supporting a hard Brexit, despite the simple yes/no vote. Presumably she has a reason for taking this particular stance, so what is it? And why is she incapable of articulating it? If it's the best thing for the country, she should be able to tell us why at this juncture. If she thinks it will be bad for the country, but is ploughing on regardless because of the 'will of the people', I would call that poor leadership.

DixieNormas · 30/05/2017 13:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ravenblack · 30/05/2017 13:48

You call it what you like, @twofingers I believe she is following the will of the people.

Obviously anti-tory remain supporters are going to slag off whatever she does, that much is certain. Wink

twofingerstoEverything · 30/05/2017 13:57

Raven If you read my post, I have not said she should not be following the will of the people, although I find it problematic that the campaign was fought with lies and misinformation, which clearly swayed at least one of the audience members in last night's programme.
However, now that she has committed to following the will of the people, she should be able to tell us all why this is a good thing. Maybe you'll be happy even if it's not a good thing, but many of us would like some positive reassurances. Expecting her to articulate the many plus points of Brexit* is not 'slagging her off' FFS.
*There must be plenty of these for her to choose from. I'm sure you could name at least ten at the drop of a hat.

ProudConservative · 30/05/2017 14:06

Corbyn was desperate to leave.

May and Cameron wanted to remain.

May is doing the best she can with a shit decision. The decision was made by morons. Of course, remain may have won if the campaign wasn't run by morons.

With Brexit happening, Corbyn's little brain is looking to capitalise on it by pretending that he wan't to sort it all out, rejecting deals etc. Of course the reality is is that he's an idiot. Many of his supporters are too. Rather than actually think about policies, they prefer to whinge "Tories hate the poor" etc.

If the left could present a viable alternative to May and the Con. party then it would be great. I'm not fan of any government having a weak and ineffectual opposition but that's what we have.

I don't really see what justification is necessary. When a new CEO is appointed in an ailing company, they don't defend the state of the company, they try to sort it out.

twofingerstoEverything · 30/05/2017 14:14

The CEO of an ailing company is not potentially jeopardising the lives of approx. 65 million people.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 30/05/2017 14:14

when a new CEO is appointed in an ailing company, they don't defend the state of the company, they try to sort it out

That's a rather odd analogy. I can't think of a situation where a company would appoint a CEO who openly admitted they disagreed with the direction the company was heading and couldn't list any positives which had changed their opinion.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 30/05/2017 14:18

I respect her for not lying. She will do the will of the people and she will get the best deal possible, probably because she doesn't want to leave. I also respect her hugely for saying she'd leave with no deal before a bad deal. Can uou imagine the outcry if she opened the negotiations by publicly announcing she'd take any punishment they wished to dole out to us for going?

WrongTrouser · 30/05/2017 14:19

ProudConservative Can you just clarify who you are calling "morons" ?

WrongTrouser · 30/05/2017 14:22

Actually don't bother. If you're incapable to discussing politics without descending to calling people "morons" I have no interest in what you have to say. The politics of anyone who despises huge sections of the population are, I think I can safely say, going to be pretty useless.