Theresa May says she is ambitious she can get a good trade deal for the UK and will fight for a ‘red, white and blue Brexit’

THERESA May has been teased for months over her "Brexit means Brexit" soundbite - but now the PM has a new slogan up her sleeve.

As the battle to get Mrs May to show more of her hand about Brexit negotiations rumbles on, she has declared she wants "a red, white and blue Brexit."

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First using the phrase talking to reporters on board her RAF Voyager flight to Bahrain, it seems this one might stick.

She liked it so much she told the BBC on Wednesday: "People talk about the sort of Brexit that there is going to be, is it hard, soft, is it grey, white, actually we want a red, white and blue Brexit. That is the right Brexit for the United Kingdom, the right deal for the United Kingdom."

And then she repeated it to ITV, saying: "I want to ensure that we get red, white and blue Brexit, that means a Brexit that is right for the United Kingdom".

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And for good measure she told Sky News: "It's not about this sort of Brexit or that sort of Brexit, It is about a red, white and blue Brexit that is the right Brexit, the right deal for Britain."

Perhaps not quite the level of detail on what Brexit really means that many were hoping, but looks like we will be hearing this catchphrase a lot more.

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The Prime Minister's comments come after she visited troops stationed in Bahrain earlier today.

Mrs May offered armed forces a "heartfelt thank you for your service and sacrifice" as she address them on board HMS Ocean.

She delivered her “admittedly somewhat early” Christmas message flanked by two Merlin helicopters and assault vehicles draped in Union Jacks.

 

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But while she is away she faces a possible rebellion in the Commons from Tory MPs irritated with the PM's lack of clarity on Brexit.

Up to 40 MPs could vote with Labour tomorrow in an Opposition Day motion to force the Government to show some of a plan for leaving the EU.

And Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, took a pretty firm line today when he said Britain could not "cherry-pick" EU benefits in a Brexit deal.

Pro-EU LibDems reacted with fury to Mrs May's new catchphrase, branding it "jingoistic claptrap."

They also pointed out that red, white and blue were the colours on the flags of seven other EU nations - France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Lib Dem boss Tim Farron said: “The Prime Minister has surpassed herself with this statement."