14 Nov, 2018 21:24

‘Dishonesty… shameful… betrayal’: Brexit backers angry at May’s ‘deal’ with EU

The agreement reached by the government of Prime Minister Theresa May to take the UK out of the EU has angered many supporters of Brexit, who are calling it a shameful surrender and betrayal of the 2016 referendum.

After 10 Downing Street announced that most of May’s cabinet backed the deal she hammered out with Brussels and published the nearly 600-page document, advocates of a negotiated split from the EU were furious.

Nigel Farage, former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader called it“the worst deal in history” and urged any genuine Brexiteers in the cabinet to “resign or never be trusted again.”Other reactions posted on social media were no kinder.

“May must be an imbecile if she thinks people will accept this is leaving. Nothing has changed. We've just lost 40 billion pounds,” wrote Twitter user John DeVries.

I can´t believe it. I have just watched Barnier describing the brexit agreement. May must be an imbecile if she thinks people will accept this is leaving. Nothing has changed. We've just lost 40 billion pounds.
— John DeVries (@Jonteinspain) November 14, 2018

“I'm shocked. Theresa May has promised again and again to deliver Brexit. She hasn't. Democracy died today in the United Kingdom. A shameful, shameful legacy Theresa May has left behind,” wrote Lucy Harris, head of the group Leavers of Britain.

I'm shocked. Theresa May has promised again and again to deliver Brexit. She hasn't. Democracy died today in the United Kingdom. A shameful, shameful legacy Theresa May has left behind.
— Lucy Harris (@Lugey6) November 14, 2018

“Today we learned our votes do not matter,” wrote Josephine Formby. “This is an utter betrayal, a shameful humiliating disgrace. May has no mandate to sell our sovereignty. This has to be stopped,” she added, with a hashtag #MayMustGo.

Today we learned our votes do not matter. This is an utter betrayal, a shameful humiliating disgrace. May has no mandate to sell our sovereignty. This has to be stopped. #Brexit #MayMustGo
— Josephine Formby (@JosephineFormby) November 14, 2018

“The British people will never forgive this dishonesty,” wrote Joe Porter, a pro-Brexit Tory organizer.

Very disappointed in the Prime Minister for threatening that "if this deal doesn't get through Parliament there may be no Brexit". You clearly never believed that "No deal is better than a bad deal". The British people will never forgive this dishonesty. #StandUp4Brexit
— Joe Porter 🇬🇧 (@JoePorterUK) November 14, 2018

Writer and Labour supporter Harry Leslie Smith was even more glum, writing that May’s decision “brings Britain closer to a dissolution of its union of nations,” alluding to potential separation of North Ireland and Scotland.

Make no mistake but #TheresaMay's Brexit brings Britain closer to a dissolution of its union of nations.
— Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) November 14, 2018

With May's deal making special provisions for Northern Ireland and ignoring Scotland, it is fueling fears that the UK will break up as a result.

Northern Ireland getting special treatment in the #Brexit deal opens the floodgates for Scotland, Wales and London to demand bespoke solutions too. It's a catastrophic error of judgement on HMG's part to view this only as something which riles the DUP.
— Sam (@SCRakestrow) November 14, 2018

Today Scotland has suffered a gross insult from the Tory Government in Westminster. If Scotland is to retain any dignity out of this #Brexit shambles the @theSNP @scotgov must initiate steps to ensure that in the days to come Scotland takes her own decisions re. the EU!
— Bill Cruickshank (@BjCruickshank) November 14, 2018

Not all was gloom and doom, however, as many chose to react to the news with typical British humor.

Brexiteers are not happy that the draft Brexit document contains an itemised bill for all the porn we watched while we were in the EU. pic.twitter.com/W6JJ2ALxLn
— Brendon Hope (@BrendonHope) November 14, 2018