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Headline: Screw EU! Paddy Power Mark Start Of Brexit Negotiations With Giant Statue Of Theresa May Flipping Europe The V's

Caption: Paddy Power have erected a 110-ft Theresa May statue, offering Europe a two-fingered salute from the White Cliffs of Dover. Or, as they call it in Westminster – a hard Brexit. Ahead of the embattled Prime Minister’s trip to Brussels on Thursday – after David Davis opened Brexit negotiations by handing over mountaineering gifts, effectively telling the EU to take a hike – the mischievous bookmaker has offered her some ‘strong and stable’ support. The spectacular statue can be seen from Normandy, took a 12-man crew a full week to assemble and erect, and sends a clear message to the UK’s soon-to-be former EU neighbours – even if the General Election results didn’t. They were such a disaster for May that Paddy Power makes it ODDS ON that more than one Prime Minister will be involved in Brexit talks (2/7) – and just 13/8 that a second General Election will be called this year. And the chances of May performing a U-Turn, her party piece, and deciding that the UK should instead Remain in the EU, are rated at 20/1. Spokesman Paddy Power said: “I’m really proud of this statue, if only because it’s the first time that I can legitimately claim to have a huge erection. “We tried to make the installation look as life-like as possible to Theresa May – which is why it’s two-dimensional and largely wooden. “During construction, it was both strong and stable, but soon went weak and wobbly when the winds changed – about as stable as a partnership with the DUP.” The structure is of such as scale that the fingernails alone are more than five-foot long. It really is the Mother of all Theresas. And Theresa's legs – a key talking point in the UK media during her time as PM so far – are a huge 10-metres tall, the equivalent of almost six Jeremy Corbyns. While the preparatory work for the stunt was taking place, contractors operated under the cover story of shooting a documentary on the forthcoming ‘Bournemouth Winter Olympics’, which locals lapped up – despite centring on a location more than 200 miles away. One onlooker said: “After the mess of the election, to pursue a hard Brexit now wouldn’t just flick Europe the Vs – but it would stick two-fingers up to the whole country, too.” BREXIT SPECIALS: 2/7 - More than one UK PM is involved in Brexit negotiations 13/8 - Another General Election is called this year 3/1 - UK to fail to reach agreement with the EU over a Brexit deal before the March 2019 deadline 4/1 - A second EU Referendum to be held before 2019 7/2 - The UK to apply to re-join the EU within ten years 20/1 - Theresa May to perform a U-turn and announce that the UK will Remain

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PersonInImage: Giant statue of Theresa May