Theresa May has reviled plans for a post-Brexit Festival for the general public of the UK, unlike anything the public has seen in recent years.
The festival is said to be inspired by the 1851 Great Exhibition and the 1951 Festival of Britain, and is scheduled to take place in 2022, the year of the next general election.
The prime minister has justified the expense by using the festival as a way to “showcase what makes our country great”, saying: “We want to capture that spirit for a new generation, celebrate our nation’s diversity and talent, and mark this moment of national renewal with a once-in-a-generation celebration.”
The festival is needed post-Brexit as it goes into negotiations with international states to discuss trade agreements. The government is looking to entice companies and states to invest in the UK, even outside of the European Union.
However, many of the public took to twitter to display their displeasure with May’s plans, describing scenes of a dismal and ultimately failed celebration and a failed Brexit.
The 1951 Festival of Britain was a national exhibition and fair, attended by millions of people at events across the country, but the public have come far from the days of attending stalls at country fairs.
Is May trying to recreate the feeling of optimism felt after WW1 by clouding over the struggle Britain could face once we leave the European Union?