British PM aims for national unity, one year from Brexit

Brexit remains a fractious topic in Britain. (Photo: AFP/Russel Cheyne)

May was visiting Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales during her day-long tour, aiming to shore up support for the government's Brexit strategy, 12 months before Britain leaves the EU on Mar 29 next year.

Brexit remains a fractious topic in Britain, with former prime minister Tony Blair leading a push for second referendum as an escape door.

"Today, one year until the UK leaves the EU and begins to chart a new course in the world, I am visiting all four nations of the union to hear from people across our country what Brexit means to them," May said ahead of her trip.

After visiting a textile factory in Ayrshire, southwest Scotland, May will travel to Newcastle in northeast England to meet a parent and toddler group.

Northern Ireland will be her next stop, for lunch with farmers near Belfast before meeting Welsh business owners in Barry, then returning to London in time for tea with a Polish group.

"I am determined that as we leave the EU, and in the years ahead, we will strengthen the bonds that unite us," May said.

"I have an absolute responsibility to protect the integrity of the United Kingdom as a whole.

"Having regained control of our laws, our borders and our money, and seized the opportunities provided by Brexit, the UK will thrive as a strong and united country that works for everyone, no matter whether you voted Leave or Remain."

TENSIONS WITH LONDON

In a seismic referendum on Jun 23, 2016, 52 per cent of voters in the UK opted for Britain to leave the European Union.

Most voters in England and Wales backed Brexit, while majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland wanted the UK to stay in the EU.

There have been tensions between London and the devolved governments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast over May's handling of the Brexit negotiations so far.

Scotland and Wales last week backed bills to ensure that powers brought back from Brussels go to their capitals.

But May insisted that the devolved administrations would see their decision-making powers increase as a result of Brexit.

Another sticking point is the Irish border as Britain leaves the European single market and customs union.

All sides in the Brexit talks want to avoid imposing checks at the frontier with the Republic of Ireland.

May has agreed to Brussels' plan to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union if no better solution is found.

However, the proposition is deemed unacceptable by the province's pro-British and pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party, which props up May's Conservative minority government in the UK parliament.

'IT'S NOT TOO LATE'

Blair, who was Britain's premier from 1997 to 2007, believes Brexit to be a giant strategic mistake and is a leading advocate for giving voters an opt-out.

He argued that once the terms of its departure were known, voters should have the chance to choose whether they prefer that to EU membership.

"It's not too late until we leave," the former Labour leader told BBC radio.

"We keep this under debate until we actually see the terms of the new relationship and then we can decide whether those terms are better than what we have now."

A ComRes online survey of 2,019 British adults on Monday and Tuesday, published in the Daily Express newspaper, which is staunchly pro-Leave, found that 35 per cent want a second referendum while 65 per cent do not.

Meanwhile 44 per cent said the government's handling of the Brexit talks had been "a total shambles".

Writing in the tabloid, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who spearheaded the official Leave campaign, said that in a year's time, "Britain will be out of the European Union and re-engaging with the rest of the world.

"Like an unstoppable express, we are heading for Brexit, and frankly my friends, we can't arrive soon enough," he wrote.

"Our national journey out of the EU is almost over - and a glorious view awaits."