"Take back control!"
It was a mantra that dominated the Brexit referendum in June 2016. The triumphant side heralded the beginning of repatriation of a whole raft of powers back from Brussels to London.
However, as the months have worn on, the much prized goal of 'control' is still elusive.
Prime Minister Theresa May is under mounting pressure.
She has yet to even trigger Article 50, the legal impetus for any negotiations to begin. She has yet to give British or international businesses any indication over whether the UK will aim to remain in the EU's single market or not. Even the Queen is reportedly being kept in the dark on what direction Mrs. May is leading the country.
My cartoon Friday: #TheresaMay won't disclose #Brexit strategy to Queen (@TheTimes story today) pic.twitter.com/vgbwh2M2N8
— Peter Brookes (@BrookesTimes) December 23, 2016
Patience, it seems, is running out.
An ICM poll commissioned by Change Britain, a pro-Brexit campaign group, surveyed 2,000 to mark six months since the historic referendum.
It found that 54% of Brits now want a speedy Brexit.
The pollsters did find that 20% still disagreed with Brexit. However, more than quarter of those who initially opposed Brexit back in June 2016, now want the departure to proceed at the fastest possible, to enable the British Government to "take back control of our borders, laws, money and trade."
The Government has a democratic mandate to take Britain out of the EU #RespectTheResult #Brexit pic.twitter.com/rXADzz41nK
— Change Britain (@Change_Britain) December 22, 2016
Labour MP Gisela Stuart, the chairman of Change Britain, said:
"On 23 June the British public voted for real change. Many people felt frustrated that their wages had not risen in years and that they hadn't seen the benefits of economic growth. Six months on, it is clear that the British people don't regret their decision."
This poll is an indication that the country is beginning to unify around Brexit, with even many Remain voters hoping for a quick conclusion to negotiations. However, the chances of that are looking increasingly thin.
Earlier in December 2016, it was revealed that even the UK's top diplomat in Europe, Sir Ivan Rogers, believes that UK-EU deal could take ten years.
He is said to have privately told ministers that the European consensus was that a deal might not be done until the early to mid-2020s.
Theresa May has said that she intends to at least trigger Article 50 in March 2017. Until then, both the murky uncertainty, and growing impatience will linger on through the New Year.
