May’s ‘renaissance’ speech paints over cracks in Tories’ Brexit position

A trip to Florence failed to provide clarity on the government’s position on leaving the EUTheresa May has a history of hedging her bets when it comes to Brexit – and her speech in Florence on Friday was no exception. Even before she took to the stage in an annexe of the Santa Maria Novella church, it was clear what her objective was. Her chancellor Philip Hammond, foreign secretary Boris Johnson, and Brexit secretary David Davis had been flown to Italy to applaud her every word. The