Theresa May should discuss Brexit with ‘disappointed’ Queen, say Tory MPs
Her Majesty said to be unhappy over PM's secrecy surrounding Britain's exit from the EU
TORY MPs have called on secretive Theresa May to discuss Brexit with the Queen as she is “the nation’s most experienced politician”.
In a potential new rift between No10 and Buckingham Palace, it was claimed yesterday that Her Majesty was “disappointed” with the PM when she refused to share her plans on how to take Britain out of the EU.
Instead of a private briefing, Mrs May just stuck to her thin public utterances during a stay in Balmoral in September.
The Queen is known to have held strong sceptic views over Britain’s EU membership for decades, along with husband Prince Philip.
But allies as well as critics insisted yesterday that Mrs May probably kept quiet because her planning was not very advanced at the time.
Senior Tory MP Sir Gerald Howarth told The Sun: “Constitutionally, Her Majesty has a right to be consulted – and she should be, because she is the most experienced politician in the country.
“I’m sure the PM would want the Queen as informed as possible.”
Heaping blame on Mrs May’s predecessor in No10 for the Royal embarrassment, the former defence minister added: “Inexcusably, Cameron did nothing to prepare the ground before the referendum, which is why this is taking time.
“It would appear the Queen, with her strong views on Brexit, is as frustrated and impatient as the rest of us.”
Having reigned since 1952, Mrs May is the thirteenth PM with whom The Queen shares weekly audiences, giving her unparalleled knowledge.
The claim – made by The Times yesterday - is the third time the 90-year-old monarch has been dragged into the political fray over Brexit this year.
In March, The Sun revealed she had a furious lunch row with pro-EU former Deputy PM Nick Clegg over greater EU integration.
Three months later, it also emerged she had taken to canvassing dinner guests to give her “three good reasons” why Britain should stay in.
This week Mrs May pledged to give a major speech “early in the new year” to unveil more of her negotiation demands before triggering ‘Article 50’ exit talks before the end of March.
Neither the PM’s nor the Queen’s officials denied the claim yesterday.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “By long-established convention we never disclose details of discussions between the Queen and her Prime Ministers. Nor would we comment on anonymously sourced conjecture of this kind."