Refusing to rule out such extreme action is unquestionably an implied threat.
And in the context of a leadership election I would suggest "policy on the fly" is a pretty good description
The point you miss is that IF we were to forcibly repatriate EU nationals then the EU will inevitably reciprocate.
If you begin your negotiation by threatening to do so they will also threaten.
Pandering to the lowest common denominator in any society is not without consequences.
Theresa May "refusing to rule out" forcible repatriation of EU citizens currently in the UK.
That'll go down well with the millions of Brits domiciled in the EU with the potential of tit for tat expulsions. :nono:
We really have become a very nasty and somewhat grubby little nation.