THERESA May’s plan for a post-Brexit “Festival of Britain” had the nation talking yesterday but perhaps not in the way the Prime Minister had intended.

The Tory leader unveiled the proposals for a £120 m national celebration in 2022 as her party gathered in Birmingham for its annual conference.

The plan is to echo the 1851 Great Exhibition and the 1951 Festival of Britain, and celebrate a number of significant anniversaries that fall in 2022, including the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, and, possibly, the platinum jubilee of the Queen.

“Just as millions of Britons celebrated their nation’s great achievements in 1951, we want to showcase what makes our country great today,” May said.

The Prime Minister believes it could be an opportunity to show off business, technology, culture, sport and arts expertise to the rest of the world and help bring in billions of pounds of investment.

She added: “Almost 70 years ago the Festival of Britain stood as a symbol of change. Britain once again stands on the cusp of a new future as an outward facing global trading nation.

“We want to capture that spirit for a new generation, celebrate our nation’s diversity and talent, and mark this moment of national renewal with a once-in-a-generation celebration.”

Soon after details emerged, #FestivalOfBrexitBritain began trending on Twitter as thousands took to social media to take the mick out of May’s plan.

“Festival of Britain. Knock down a croissant in the games tent and you can win a tin of rat meat,” tweeted @teaandnaps.

Julie Owen Moylan wrote: “Theresa May wants us to be proud and have a festival of Brexit Britain. Union Jack bunting draped around a Dyson vacuum standing on a sticky floor in Wetherspoons it is then.”

Marcus Chown tweeted: “Apparently, when you go to the Festival of Brexit Britain, you’ll be able to refuse to pay the entrance fee and demand unlimited access to all the attractions.”

But JesoCheese came to the Prime Minister’s defence: “This #festivalofbrexitbritain hashtag is full of sneering, entitled millennials. You are lucky to be British. You are fortunate that you live in the best country in the world. You are comfortable, safe, warm and affluent. Have some respect for your heritage.”

The 1951 Festival of Britain was an attempt by the then Labour government to try and reassure the country that Britain was recovering from the devastation brought about by the Second World War.

It was a celebration of British industry, arts, science and architecture.

In Scotland, Glasgow hosted an Exhibition of Industrial Power which was opened by the then Princess Elizabeth.