Roundup: British lawmakers grill May over Brexit; Sturgeon warns of Scotland independence re-run

Politicians in Britain's House of Commons had their first chance Wednesday in grilling Prime Minister Theresa May following her keynote speech outlining her plans for leaving the European Union.

Some Members of Parliament (MPs) were already angered because May chose to outline her strategy to an invited audience rather than spell out her proposals in the Commons.

In a noisy session of Prime Minister's Questions, May faced a barrage of questions from MPs about her plans.

The toughest exchange came between May and the leader of the main opposition Labor Party, Jeremy Corbyn.

Pressed on a number of issues about her strategy to bring Britain out of the EU, May said her strategy would promote a global Britain and put the "divisions of Brexit behind us".

Corbyn referred to a front page newspaper headline comparing May to Britain's only other female premier, Margaret Thatcher, famed as the "Iron Lady".

Gazing across the House of Commons chamber at May, he said: "it is not so much the Iron Lady as the irony lady", adding that Brexit will have huge implications for people's lives, jobs and living standards.

To cheers from her own supporters in the chamber, May said to Corbyn: "I have a plan -- he does not have a clue."

Meanwhile political commentators, the business world and British media continued to dissect the implications of May's speech in which she said for the first time Britain will leave the European single market.

More than 660 kilometers from Westminster, May faced criticism from Scottish Nationalist Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, first minister in the Scottish parliament.

Sturgeon said May's plans to take Britain out of the single market brought a second Scottish independence referendum undoubtedly closer.

She said Scotland, where the population voted by a large margin in favour of remaining in the EU, should be able to choose a "different future" to the one outlined by May.

Politicians in Wales claimed May's plans could threaten 200,000 jobs in their region.

In the world of academia, Patrick Minford, professor of Applied Economics at Cardiff Business School at Cardiff University, welcomed May's approach to Brexit.

"It is important we do not let this lead to trade war with EU," Minford said.

As a eurosceptic, Minford supported the Better Off Out campaign to leave the European Union and has described the EU as a protectionist Customs Union.

Minford, famed for helping shape Margaret Thatcher's monetary policy, said in a letter Wednesday to the Times that it is vital for Britain to avoid a self-harming tit-for-tat tariff war with the EU.

"Global free trade, linked to a release from burdensome EU regulation, and proper control of migration can deliver a Brexit dividend of 6 percent of GDP.

"The government's 12-point plan is an excellent platform from which this can be delivered," said Minford.

In a decisive speech on Tuesday that sets a course for a clean break with the European Union, May promised to quit the EU single market and seek a free trade agreement with the EU.

She also pledged to restrict access to Britain by EU citizens and end the jurisdiction in Britain of the European Court of Justice. The 12-point blueprint was dubbed a "hard Brexit".

May's speech made front page news in virtually all of Fleet Street newspapers Wednesday, mostly praising her strong message.

The pro-leave Daily Telegraph described May's speech as a defining moment in British politics, while the remain-supporting Guardian was not impressed.

It said May's Brexit speech was a doubly depressing event, riddled with its own streak of global fantasy.

The Daily Mail drew parallels with the image of Britain's only other female premier, Margaret Thatcher, popularised in the media as "the Iron Lady".

"Steel of the new iron Lady" beamed the Mail's front page headline, describing May's speech as momentous.

In an editorial, the Mail said on May's formidable showing, the talks on how Britain should leave the EU are in safe hands.

The business world's main newspaper, the Financial Times, praised May's bold vision but warned the road ahead will be perilous.

Meanwhile, Downing Street issued a statement Wednesday, saying following her speech May spoke with European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Hollande.

A Downing Street spokesperson said that May called European leaders following her speech to set out Britain's objectives for the Brexit negotiations and her vision for the right deal between Britain and the EU.

May spoke first to Tusk and then Jean-Claude Juncker.

Juncker and Tusk both welcomed the greater clarity in the British position. Tusk said he looked forward to negotiating in a spirit of good will once Britain triggers Article 50, according to May's spokesperson.

The spokesperson added both Merkel and Hollande welcomed May's commitment to the continuing strength of the EU, and her intention to negotiate a new partnership with the EU when Britain leaves.

May has indicated that Britain will trigger Article 50, the formal procedure by which an EU member state notifies the European Council that it intends to leave the block, by the end of March.

Once triggered, Article 50 requires "divorce" negotiations to be completed within two years. Endit