Liz Truss says the EU ‘only understands pain’

The former Prime Minister expressed regret that her forerunner, Theresa May, did not exhibit a greater level of toughness.

Liz Truss claimed that during the negotiations for leaving the European Union, Britain had the advantage of having a lot of bargaining power, but unfortunately failed to utilize it.

On the morning of April 16th, 2024 at 4:00 am Central European Time, something amazing happened.

Liz Truss believes that during Brexit negotiations, the UK should have been more aggressive with the EU and made them feel the consequences of their actions. She believes that the EU only responds to forceful measures and intimidation, and that the UK should have played their cards more boldly to get what they wanted.

On Tuesday, a new book was published that includes the thoughts of the prime minister who was in office for the shortest amount of time in the United Kingdom. She expressed her reflections on Britain's complicated departure from the European Union.

Truss expresses her disappointment that the former Prime Minister, Theresa May, did not take a firmer stance during the Brexit negotiations. She believes that the decision for the UK to leave the EU in 2016 was always going to be perceived by the EU as an aggressive move.

She asserted that we must move forward with that understanding. The only language they comprehend is suffering. We ought to have informed them that we are willing to walk away with no agreement, implement tariffs on their agricultural imports, and negotiate a trade deal with the United States.

She suggested that during the negotiations for leaving the European Union, Britain had a significant amount of influence which it could have utilized, yet it failed to do so.

"Since both the prime minister and the chancellor are inclined to heed prudent civil servants, it was clear that advocating for an audacious and aggressive strategy would not succeed," she stated.

Truss was a part of May's Cabinet while they were negotiating Brexit. Initially, Truss was the justice secretary and then later worked in a high-ranking position in the finance ministry. May's administration fell apart while attempting to pass a Brexit agreement in the UK parliament.

Afterwards, Truss was assigned the responsibilities of dealing with trade and foreign affairs in Boris Johnson's government, which ultimately proved to be ineffective. However, she eventually became the new prime minister herself, but her time in this role was short-lived and filled with disarray, lasting only 49 days.

Truss supported staying in the European Union before the Brexit vote took place in 2016. However, she has now changed her stance and identifies as a committed supporter of Brexit.