Germany praises Theresa May for bringing ‘more clarity’ with her Brexit speech – but angry MEPs accuse her of ‘day dreaming’

GERMANY'S Foreign Minister has welcomed Theresa May's speech on Brexit describing it as bringing "a bit more clarity" to her plans.

The Prime Minister sensationally promised a clean break with the European Union confirming for the first time that the UK would be leaving the single market.

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She also promised a deal which would enable the country to "control the number of people who come to Britain from Europe”.

The speech looks set to cheer Brexiteers and upset Remainers in Britain but the international community has begun to give their thoughts on the PM's address.

Germany's foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Theresa May had "finally brought a bit more clarity" to her government's Brexit plans.

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He said that seven months after the referendum to leave the EU, Brexit "still has not been formalised," said in a statement.

He added: "We therefore welcome the fact that the British prime minister has today sketched out her government's plans for leaving and finally brought a bit more clarity about the British plans."

President of the European Council Donald Tusk tweeted: "Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on #Brexit. EU27 united and ready to negotiate after Art. 50."

But still hours after the speech Europe's leaders have left a deafening silence in response with no comments yet from Angela Merkel or Francois Hollande.

Others were less sanguine and appreciative of Mrs May's 12 point plan.

Tomas Prouza the Czech Republic's Europe Minister tweeted: "UK's plan seems a bit ambitious - trade as free as possible, full control on immigration...where is the give for all the take?"

Swedish Moderate MEP Christofer Fjellner wrote: "UK leaving the single market will come at a large cost. Negotiating new free trade deals with others to compensate won't be any easy task!"

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Kathleen Van Brempt, a Belgian socialist, tweeted: "The European Union is not a menu where the #UK can freely pick and choose to their liking. #Brexit."

In one of the less measured responses to the speech Jan Philipp Albrecht, a Green MEP for northern Germany, tweeted: "#May: Go f*** yourself EU but please don't let us down. *whine* *whine*"

He then added "Sad: Everything what #May tells her British people to achieve would be possible inside the European Union but will be daydreams outside it."

French MEP Alain Lamassoure branded the PM's speech "incomprehensible" and accused the UK of "sinking itself".

He said:  "It’s clear the interest for the British is that their businesses have access to the 500m customers [in Europe] and not just the 65m in Britain.

"Also she says she is proud that London will be able to take control of trade deals with the rest of the world, but when she comes to negotiating with a country like China she can only offer the 65m British customers.

"It’s a kind of economic and business suicide that makes it hard to understand what is going on over the other side of the Channel."

Closer to home, former Ukip leader and South East of England MEP Nigel Farage tweeted: "I can hardly believe that the PM is now using the phrases and words that I've been mocked for using for years. Real progress."

Closer to home, former Ukip leader and South East of England MEP Nigel Farage tweeted: "I can hardly believe that the PM is now using the phrases and words that I've been mocked for using for years. Real progress."

He added: "My worry is how long this is going to take and when we will start doing a deal with the USA and others."

The financial markets responded well the introduction of clarity into the discussion with the pound surging following Mrs May's announcement that Parliament will get a vote on the deal.