It was a stormy Britain the Prime Minister returned to the morning after the Salzburg Summit. Gales of the September equinox were battering the country and the gale of political uproar was swirling around Westminster and battering the door of No 10.
‘Humiliation’, ‘rebuff’, ‘disaster’, ‘isolated’, ‘lonely’ were but some of the words applied to the Prime Minister in the morning papers and breathless commentary that accompanied her flight home from the EU summit. Wind on all fronts.
Theresa May had gone to the summit and set out the UK’s position. It cannot have come as any surprise to anyone in the room. For weeks the plan has been public and discussed at home, in the corridors of the Commission and in the chancellories of Europe. For good measure the Prime Minister had written for a prominent German newspaper published on the morning of the summit. The twenty seven heads of government of the European Union may have succumbed to a feeling of ennui as the Prime Minister went through her proposals again, but to none of them can it have come as a surprise. So why the thundering and public put down? What on earth has gone on?
If accounts are to be believed there was a dislike of the Prime Minister’s tone, her trenchant defence of her plan, her apparent inflexibility. This is a childish response. These are all seasoned and tough political leaders. Back home in the UK this apparent reverse was greeted with glee by the usual talking heads. Listen carefully however and beyond the squeaking and squawking you can hear both sides, UK and the EU, continuing to say they want a deal and both sides saying it is still possible.
In their response however Europe’s leaders have, wittingly or unwittingly, thrown Theresa May a lifeline ahead of the Conservative Party conference. What could have been more difficult than to go to the conference trying to defend a difficult and divisive negotiation. Now, by backing her into a corner, they have forced her to come out fighting. It is a political gift. The early signs are she is going to seize it with both hands, starting with the calling of a snap live national broadcast. Looking straight at camera she set out the position clearly and crisply. It was as effective as it was dramatic. It will go down well in the country. It will go down well at the Party Conference. The Prime Minister has often struggled with some forms of public appearance, but in this setting she was formidable. If she can now go above the heads of the Westminster chatteratti, keep speaking directly to the country, and fashion a workable agreement she will prevail.