[Margaret Pilkington]

As for Theresa May...it would not have made one iota of difference who was negotiating....because the EU has 'negotiated' nothing.
You cannot negotiate unless both sides know where they want to be and are BOTH willing to make some compromises.
It is clear that the EU will give nothing...it is not in their interests....except the U.K. leaving without an agreement is as damaging to them(possibly more so) as it might be for us.

They also want to deter any other upstart countries who might want to emulate a U.K.exit.