Comments and discussion

In this section, we suggest elements you might want to comment on or discuss in your own analysis of Theresa May’s Brexit speech of 17 January 2017. Always remember to argue systematically for your opinion and avoid making emotional or personal statements.

First, you might want to discuss May’s reliability as a speaker on the topic of Brexit. Prior to her becoming Prime Minister, she was actually against withdrawal from the EU, which sometimes put her in a bit of a dilemma in the handling of the Brexit negotiations.

It could be argued that May’s original reluctance towards Brexit can be seen in her speech. Whenever she talks of the time when the Brits voted for Brexit, she avoids propouns like “I” and “we” - despite her using them extensively in the rest of the speech. Instead, she mentions the British population as the key player in her sentences. For example:

But the message from the public before and during the referendum was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver. (ll. 323-327)

Here, May uses the term “the public” to say who is really behind the decision to leave the EU. Had she wanted to underline that she persona...