Theresa May has adopted a new ‘natural’ approach in an attempt to get her Brexit message across and shed her ‘Maybot’ reputation after weeks of tumult.
In what appeared to be a loosely-scripted video message, the Prime Minister made a plea for “compromise on both sides” as talks with Labour continued.
May even forced a chuckle as she admitted that the public might be confused over why leaving the European Union has yet to happen almost three years after the referendum.
She began by admitting people have been asking her “what on earth is happening with Brexit” as she was filmed on a shaky camera and with a large tumbler of water placed in the foreground.
Filmed at her Chequers country retreat, May was in ‘fireside chat’ mode: an oft-used political device made famous by radio addresses from US President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s.
She addressed the ongoing talks with Jeremy Corbyn, which she now appears to think are the only way out of the Brexit deadlock.
“There are lots of things on which I disagree with the Labour Party on policy issues,” she said.
“But on Brexit I think there are some things we agree on: ending free movement, ensuring we leave with a good deal, protecting jobs, protecting security.
“And so we are talking. Can we find a way through this that ensures that we can get a good deal and a deal agreed through parliament?
“It’ll mean compromise on both sides but I believe that delivering Brexit is the most important thing for us.”
The reaction to the new style was largely positive, and it drew some unexpected comparisons.
Further talks are expected this week and shadow business minister Rebecca Long-Bailey, a member of Labour’s negotiating team, said while it was “disappointing” that there had not been any shift in the government’s red lines “the overall mood is quite a positive and hopeful one”.
The Prime Minister heads to Brussels on Wednesday for an emergency summit aimed at securing a further delay to Brexit, with May hoping for an extension until June 30 at the latest, with the option of leaving the EU earlier if a deal can get through parliament.
If no extension is agreed then the UK is set to leave without a deal on Friday.