'Brexit blame game': What the papers say as Theresa May takes aim at MPs for not backing her deal

Theresa May's move to blame MPs for not helping her implement the Brexit referendum result has been the focus of the nation’s newspaper front page headlines this morning.

The Prime Minister last night made a direct appeal to the public on Wednesday evening, telling the UK that she was "on their side" as she took aim at MPs’ “political games”.

The word "blame" features on a number of the national paper’s front pages, with the i referring to the "Brexit blame game", while the Guardian carried the headline "May: don't blame me for Brexit crisis, blame MPs".

Comments from the Prime Minister also led on the Times, with the paper suggesting Mrs May is trying to turn voters' anger at MPs.

Inside the paper, political sketch writer draws a parallel between Mrs May's speech and Brenda from Bristol who was catapulted into public consciousness when she reacted to the 2017 snap election by saying "Not another one!"

The leader column, headlined "National Humiliation", concluded the only way for Tories to secure Brexit is to back the PM's deal. It said: "In reality, the choice facing MPs is no choice at all.

"There is little to like about Mrs May's deal, which even if grudgingly passed will not resolve the national trauma but will merely set the stage for further battles.

"But a no-deal crash-out in eight days' time for which the country is manifestly ill prepared would destroy what little faith remains in our political system. It is time for the opposition to stop chasing phantoms."

The Daily Mirror said Mrs May is the victim of "deluded defiance", accusing her of blaming everyone except herself, while the Sun portrays the PM as Wolfie Smith, the Robert Lindsay character from sitcom Citizen Smith, next to the headline "Power to the people".

Nick Timothy, former joint chief of staff in 10 Downing Street, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that there "wasn't a better deal on the table".

He said: "Ever since Gina Miller defeated the Government in the Supreme Court, insisting that Parliament must legislate to invoke Article 50, and through the sorry saga of Grieve amendments, meaningful votes, and Cooper, Boles and Benn amendments, MPs could have taken control with each Brexit vote.

"They could have voted for the PM's deal, but they rejected it, twice. They could have voted for no deal, but they rejected that, twice. They could have voted for a second referendum, but they refused. They could have voted for a softer Brexit, meaning a customs union, a Norway-style relationship, or a combination of the two. But they refused to do that too.

"The Prime Minister is often accused of kicking the can down the road, but she is not alone: that is all MPs can agree to do."