Since 6/23 of 2016, when the Brexit referendum determined that the United Kingdom (UK) would be leaving the European Union (EU), conversation has been stirring over how Britain will go about it. Critics of Theresa May, now Prime Minister of the UK, have rumored that she will be aiming for a “hard brexit”. Following her speech, however, that rumor has been dismissed as May reveals that she aims for a frictionless free trade agreement with EU countries while compromising on other areas such as common security and business practices in place before Brexit. Despite the divisive nature of the fight for Brexit, May reveals that her strategy toward making Britain a strong global, power is through compromise and unity.

May plans to maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland and has established a Joint Ministerial Committee, so the four nations making up the UK will have representation in the negotiations. Also, she has planned to resolve issues regarding the rights of EU nationals and British nationals in other EU countries, although specific actions have not been discussed

May plans to make the UK’s transition out of the EU “smooth and orderly.” To insure that worker’s rights are still protected, May will translate existing EU legislation into British law, and also include updates relative to the changing market.

May has clarified that the UK will not participate in the European Single Market because then Britain would have to adhere to EU regulations without a voice in the matter–meaning that Brexit would have been for nought. The UK will still participate in some EU programs, but the choice will be theirs.

As for matters of immigration policy, May wants Britain to remain an academic haven for innovation and study for ”the best and brightest,” in her own words.

“Openness to international talent must remain [a] distinctive asset…Controlled immigration can bring great benefits–filling skill shortages, delivering public services [,but the] sheer volume [of immigration] has put pressure on public services, like school, stretched our infrastructure, especially housing, and put a downward pressure on the wages of working class people…I know that you cannot control immigration when there is free movement from Britain to Europe,” said May in her speech to the public outlining her 12 objectives.

Britain, as of now, is experiencing a chronic housing shortage, and public services are sparse and having to be rationed. The working class have beared the brunt of the EU’s ills, so it is not unexpected to see the poorest areas are the ones that voted for Brexit while the more affluent regions, like London, were majority Remain.

According to May herself, Brexit is not about no immigration, but controlled immigration. Because there is free movement in the EU, Merkel’s open border policy essentially nullifies any other EU member’s immigration policy, and therefore their sovereignty. For example, the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel’s open border policy has brought serious repercussions onto its neighboring country, Austria, and may have contributed to the rise of extreme right-wing parties and an even more rigid immigration policy.

Above all, however, Theresa May wants a smooth and orderly Brexit. She has made clear that she does not want the UK to remain in “political purgatory” where it is only “half in and half out”–a situation she considers to be a model already enjoyed by many countries. To May the objectives for Brexit are to create a strong and global Britain that is independent of the EU’s constraints and stronger for it.