What the UK Prime Minister’s Latest Brexit Speech Means for the Travel Industry
Skift Take
The Prime Minister’s speech was her most significant yet on the subject of Brexit. It gave a clear indication of how the UK would look to leave the European Union, allowing us to analyze how this might affect the travel and tourism industry.
Since the vote at the end of June last year, the British government has only hinted at how it sees the country extricating itself from the European Union (EU). Prime Minister Theresa May's speech finally gave everyone an insight into her thinking.
You see, even though the ballot paper only asked a straight yes/no question there are a number of possible permutations, neatly described by the terms “hard” and “soft” Brexit.
Although there are no agreed definitions, the latter could mean staying within, say the single market — covering the free movement of goods, people, services, and capital between states — while the former would mean cutting all formal ties with the EU and becoming a bit like Canada is at the moment.
May’s speech pointed the UK firmly in the direction of a “hard” Brexit.
“We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe. And that is why we seek a new and equal partnership — between an independent, self-governing, glob
