Theresa May: Brexit Means Brexit

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May appeared to confirm a “hard” Brexit during a speech in London on Tuesday.

Many supporters of the Leave campaign were worried — just as many anti-Brexit Brits had hoped — that the May government would try to seek some half-hearted “soft” Brexit deal with the E.U., in which many trappings and legal obligations of E.U. membership would be maintained.

“President-Elect Trump has said Britain is not ‘at the back of the queue’ for a trade deal with the United States, the world’s biggest economy, but front of the line.”

Tuesday’s speech put those fears to rest. “Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out,” said May.

“We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold onto bits of membership as we leave,” she continued. “No, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. And my job is to get the right deal for Britain as we do,” she said.

May promised that Britons would once again have control of their own laws and their own border. “We will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain,” she said. “We will ensure we can control immigration to Britain from Europe.”

The PM confirmed also that Britain would be leaving the E.U. single market, though it would seek a free trade deal with Europe.

“Both sides in the referendum campaign made it clear that a vote to leave the E.U. would be a vote to leave the single market,” said May. “So we do not seek membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold, and ambitious free trade agreement.”

May also pledged to seek free trade deals with the rest of the world. “It is time for Britain to get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation,” she said.

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“We want to get out into the wider world, to trade and do business all around the globe,” she continued before taking a jab at outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama, who warned the U.K. would be “at the back of the queue” for trade deals if it voted for Brexit.

“Countries including China, Brazil, and the Gulf States have already expressed their interest in striking trade deals with us … And President-Elect Trump has said Britain is not ‘at the back of the queue’ for a trade deal with the United States, the world’s biggest economy, but front of the line,” said May.

The PM also had an unmistakable warning for E.U. officials who might try to impose punitive measures on the U.K. as part of a Brexit deal, hinting that Britain would lower its tax rates and create a tax haven to undercut the E.U.

“I know there are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path,” said May. “That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe. And it would not be the act of a friend,” she continued. “Britain would not — indeed we could not — accept such an approach.”