Theresa May’s so-called “Plan B” for Brexit has been widely derided by analysts as a crude repackaging of her initial plan, which was rejected last week in the House of Commons by a record number of votes.
The British prime minister presented her updated exit strategy to parliament on Monday, outlining a number of minor adjustments to her first proposal, but failing to address the most contentious issues, such as the Northern Ireland backstop.
The plan has received a chilly reception from lawmakers, analysts and the press. With Brexit scheduled to trigger on March 29, May’s critics allege that the prime minister is incapable of delivering a plan supported by the British people.
‘Plan A with a different shirt and tie’
By far the most widespread criticism of May’s new plan is that it doesn’t appear to be significantly different from Plan A – which suffered a crushing defeat in parliament.
In fact, the fundamental problem with May’s new plan is that it’s not new at all, John Wight, political commentator and journalist, told RT. According to Wight, Plan B “is merely Plan A is a different shirt and tie. Just a tweak here and there, no meaningful change whatsoever.”
‘Door open but your mind is closed’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused PM Theresa May of not seriously engaging in cross-party talks to break the Brexit deadlock at PMQs, as she failed to rule out a no-deal departure from the EU.
In what had a feeling of Groundhog Day, PMQs brought May and Corbyn head-to-head again on the polarizing issue of Brexit. The encounter ultimately shed no more light on the next steps the UK government is likely to take with Britain’s withdrawal from the EU fast approaching.
What it did bring was accusations and counter-accusations as to who was to blame for the current impasse.
May took a pop at Corbyn for refusing to agree to discussions on Brexit, and laying down pre-conditions for any such talks. The PM argued that “he has been willing to sit down with Hamas, Hezbollah and the IRA without preconditions, yet he won’t meet me to talk about Brexit.”
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