EU leaders’ intransigence is a gift to Theresa May

A grave but determined Theresa May, visibly wounded at her treatment by EU leaders this week, addressed the nation: “Throughout this process I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same.” In a steely reaffirmation of her red lines and in a clear stand against Brussels she insisted: “I will not overturn the result of the referendum, nor will I break up my country.”

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 battering at the door of No 10 too.

‘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.

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 her snap live national broadcast this afternoon. 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, she will prevail.