Britain needs to be prepared for some “difficult times” ahead as it leaves the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May has said.
Speaking to the Andrew Marr Show—in her first major interview since taking office—May warned Brexit would not be “plain sailing” for the UK, BBC reported.
She said formal EU talks will not begin until 2017, but vowed the process would not be “kicked into the long grass”.
“I’m not going to pretend that it’s all going to be plain sailing. I think we must be prepared for the fact that there may be some difficult times ahead,” she said.
“As I say, an independent Britain forging our own way in the world. And I think what we see following the referendum vote is that British spirit which says we’ve had the decision, now let’s get on with it, let’s get on with putting it into practice, and let’s make sure that we take those opportunities and make a success of it.”
She again signaled on Sunday that she would not accept a second EU referendum, after protesters took to the street in cities such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Cambridge calling for public input on whether to accept the eventual Brexit package.
She insisted the country would “make a success” of leaving the EU, saying she was also “optimistic” about new opportunities for Britain outside the EU.
The former home secretary became prime minister after David Cameron resigned in the wake of the EU referendum—with the Brexit process likely to dominate the first years of her premiership.
