May blasts opponent on Brexit as poll lead narrows

British Prime Minister Theresa May attacked opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn for being unprepared for Brexit, as her Conservative party's poll lead narrowed further ahead of next week's election.

Theresa May

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at a factory during a campaign event in the battle bus tour of the United Kingdom. Source: AAP

May said that while she was ready for negotiations set to start 11 days after the June 8 vote, the Labour leader would "find himself alone and naked in the negotiating chamber of the European Union".

Both politicians endured a bruising television grilling on Monday, with May coming under fire from audience members over cuts to public services, including police - an emotive issue following last week's Manchester bombing.
In a speech on Tuesday in Wolverhampton in central England, home to one of the Conservatives' target seats, the prime minister sought to pivot the debate back to Brexit.

"I am prepared. I am ready to go. Jeremy Corbyn is not," said May.

"Only one of us has the determination to deliver the will of the people and make Brexit happen. And only one of us has the plan to make Brexit a success."

When May called the snap election in April, hoping for a stronger mandate for the EU talks, the Conservatives had a lead of more than 20 points over Labour. 

But this has fallen back in recent weeks since Labour presented its leftist agenda, and after a row over May's plans for elderly social care that could see many people forced to pay more.

A new Survation poll for ITV television put Labour up three points in a week on 37 percent, while the Conservatives were unchanged on 43 percent. The smaller Liberal Democrats were on eight percent.

On Tuesday, May repeated her Brexit negotiating goals, including withdrawing Britain from Europe's single market in order to control immigration from the continent, and ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

And she confirmed once again she would rather walk away than accept a bad deal, saying Corbyn's refusal to do so means "accepting any terms, however unreasonable".

Critics have warned that leaving the EU without a new trade deal in place could cause significant harm to Britain's economy - a position repeated by Labour after May's speech.

"In this election, it is vital that the government is not given a blank cheque for a chaotic, extreme Brexit that would leave our economy... worse off," lawmaker Chuka Umunna said.

WATCH: Brexit what does it mean?

Share
Published 31 May 2017 8:14am
Updated 31 May 2017 7:59pm
Source: AFP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world