British Prime Minister Theresa May’s move on Wednesday to formally notify the EU of Britain’s intention to quit the bloc had U.K. red tops celebrating, the French press worrying of the “consequences of the break” and Germans warning the divorce “could be expensive for the British.”
In Britain, most papers used an image of May signing the Article 50 letter to the EU for their front pages. The Daily Express was joyous, proclaiming: “Dear EU, we’re leaving you,” while the Sun said “Dover and out” to the Continent. The Daily Mail chirped: “Freedom!”
The left-leaning Independent took a more somber view of the day, leading with a story on “Ex-business secretaries urge May to reject ‘nightmare’Â hard Brexit.”
One of the few papers not to use the picture of May, the Guardian went instead with a striking jigsaw-puzzle inspired image, noting: “Today Britain steps into the unknown.”
A steely-eyed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the front page of the Scotsman, which declared: “Scottish parliament backs call for independence referendum,” continuing: “But Theresa May says no to indyref2 despite Holyrood vote.”
The Scottish Daily Mail was less restrained: “As SNP (and their Green stooges) force through Holyrood support for a referendum, U.K. ministers’ resolve hardens. No new vote on independence for five years.”
Across the Channel in France, in a relatively small front page story, Le Monde wrote: “Brexit: the consequences of the break.” Le Figaro marked the occasion with the headline: “29 March 2017: The day the U.K. says goodbye to Europe.”
In Germany, Spiegel Online led with the headline: “May’s five-front battle begins,” before talking down the PM’s chances of success. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung also couldn’t resist a pot-shot, warning the affair “could be expensive for the British.”
Over in Portugal, Público led with a shadowed image of a statue of Winston Churchill overlooking Big Ben. In Spain, La Vanguardia wrote that May had signed away “44 years of ties with the EU.” El Pais took a dramatic route, proclaiming London had initiated a process that would âmark the future of Europe.” It continued: “We leave poetry behind: from today onwards, itâs time for prose.”
Belgium’s Le Soir carried the headline: “Theresa May signs the end of the Europe of 28.”
EXPRESS: Dear EU, we're leaving you #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/q9IwlpQUsp
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
THE SUN: Dover & Out #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/VlC4ssGCyy
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
MAIL: Freedom! #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/z23gC9RbEZ
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
MIRROR: Dear EU, it's time to go #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/XcIx2xzuc6
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL Ex-business secretaries urge May to reject EU hard Brexit #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/55eAqK3a1u
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
GUARDIAN: Today Britain steps into the unknown #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/uY63zlSVtn
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
THE SCOTSMAN: Scottish Parliament backs call for independence referendum #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/yKwhT8CcVh
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017
SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL: No new vote on independence for FIVE years #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/AyWBii7cXz
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 28, 2017