you can answer it once -- and quite frankly it's just a meaningless throwaway statement because no, the UK would not become a colony. Let's look at the terms of the NOvember deal
- The agreement sets up a transitional period, which lasts until 31 December 2020, but can be extended once by mutual consent. During the transitional period, UK will remain a member of the Europe Economic Area, the single market, and the customs union, EU laws will continue to apply to UK, UK will continue to pay into the budget. However, UK will not be represented in the decision-making bodies of the EU. The transition period will give businesses time to adjust to the new situation, and time to negotiate a new trade deal between the EU and UK
- On the Irish border question, the agreement sets a backstop which will come into force, in the case that there is no new agreement between EU and UK before the end of the transition period. In that case, UK will remain in a customs union with the EU. Neither party can unilaterally withdraw from this customs union. The goal of this backstop agreement is to avoid a "hard" Irish border, where customs checks are necessary
The point that STOPPED the vote was the Irish backstop, not trade. Nothing about being a colony in any way. If May wanted to make a deal in the previous two years she could have, or planned a hard brexit. She did nothing.