In the run-up to the Brexit deadline, Theresa May agrees to enter into a "deal that will yield the results": NPR

When British Prime Minister Theresa May climbed onto the podium on Wednesday, she was all smiles. And sparkles. And were these jazz hands?

In any event, her entry to the conservative party's conference, which had the theme of ABBA's "Dancing Queen", was of course not a mere reference to the recent viral video of her rather unconventional. The measure aimed to project ease and confidence, two things that were lacking for the British as they negotiated their departure from the European Union.

"What we are proposing is very ambitious for the EU," May told the conservative assemblies in Birmingham, but "If we stay united and hold our temper, I know we can get an agreement that satisfies the expectations of Britain ".

At around six months from the date on which the UK will leave the European Union next March, many British lawmakers do not share this sense of certainty, who have recently voiced their doubts on both sides of the ideological spectrum. Leftist critics, like Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, are predictable – but May has also been severely reprimanded by his conservative colleagues.

Boris Johnson, who stepped down as Foreign Secretary in the wake of Brexit concerns, called May's proposals "humiliating publicly" in his speech to the Conservative conference the previous day. Even David Davis, the secretary in charge of the Brexit negotiations, has resigned from his post in protest against a plan that includes "a number of weaknesses".

EU officials have so far rejected the UK's proposals, calling them unrealistic. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said that his proposals, which would maintain a free market with the EU while largely closing the door for EU workers, "just will not work".

"The EU is adamant that you can not have free movement of goods without accepting EU workers – this would violate club rules," says Frank Langfitt, of NPR. "In the end, EU citizens think that this would lead to the disintegration of the union."

There is also the controversial issue of Northern Ireland.

The region, which is part of the United Kingdom, has an open land border with the Republic of Ireland as part of the 20-year-old Good Friday Agreement that put an end to decades of sectarian violence. This open border could undermine the trade barriers erected with an agreement on Brexit. And the two main solutions proposed – closing the border or adding controls on goods crossing the Irish Sea – have so far proved non-existent.

This particular problem is politically thorny for May. After disastrous results in early elections last year, his ruling government depends on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland.

"In Northern Ireland, we grew up with a lot of fears and problems, frankly, being afraid of what Theresa May might do is not one of my biggest fears," said Nigel Dodds, DUP leader. . Guardian this week.

The challenges that May faces only slightly dampened the enthusiasm of his speech to the Conservatives on Wednesday. She reaffirmed her commitment to finding a realistic compromise with the EU – unlike some of her conservative rivals, who, she said, "do not act in the national interest, but for their own political interest ".

"It's our proposal: take back control of our borders, our laws and our money, it's good for jobs, it's good for the union, the referendum is respected." it is in the national interest, "she said. the conference Wednesday.

"Even if we do not all agree on all parts of this proposal," added May, "we have to come together."