British Politics: Theresa May Or May Not

by Neil Bamforth

British Prime Minister Theresa May is rapidly looking like writing her place in the political history books as the worst leader the Conservatives ever had and, possibly, the weakest Prime Minister for many a year. To some extent she only has herself to blame, in fact, never mind to some extent. She only has herself to blame and yet, I do, a very tiny wee bit, feel ever so slightly sorry for her.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron allowed a vote on leaving the European Union and lost. As a result he resigned. Theresa May took the reigns holding a healthy, if not huge, majority. It should have been reasonably plain sailing for her.

She quite sensibly ruled out calling an election against the argument that as she had ‘taken over’ as Prime Minister she hadn’t actually been voted in by the people. Of course, the counter argument she should have used is that the people voted in a Conservative government not, specifically, a Prime Minister.

She then unwisely changed her mind and called a general election. The plan was to increase her small but stable majority to a huge majority.

That has to be one of the biggest ‘OOPS!’ in politics for generations.

The previously small but relatively robust majority vanished and the Conservatives had to conjure up 2 billion pounds for Northern Ireland to gain the support of their biggest party, the Democratic Unionists, in order to govern at all.

It’s been pretty much downhill since then for Mrs May.

The Conservatives had introduced so called ‘austerity measures’ to supposedly clear up the very real financial mess left by the previous Gordon Brown Labour government. Generally speaking they had managed it, if only because people knew the former Labour government had indeed messed up the countries finances.

However, as soon as the Conservatives found 2 billion for Northern Ireland to gain the support of the Democratic Unionists everyone understandably said “Hang on! What happened to austerity? Where the hell did this 2 billion come from?”

Of course, Mrs May is also trying to oversee Brexit. From a position of strength with a workable majority it would be quite feasible but, with a minority government propped up by the DUP and losing ministers every other day to various scandals Prime Minister Theresa May looks like exactly what she is.

A Prime Minister in name only in such a weakened position that I find it almost impressive that she is capable of clinging on to power.

In fact, unlike so many of our politicians, I’m starting to think she is doing so out of a sense of duty rather than desire.

After all, should she step down what alternatives are there?

Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson? Dear God no.

Labour Prime Minister Jeremy Corbyn? Are we THAT suicidal?

So, you see, whilst I have no political allegiance and, frankly, dislike politicians en mass I am coming to terms with the fact that I feel just a wee bit sorry for Theresa May.

Not very sorry you understand. Just a tiny bit.

She is pretty useless but, if I am right and she’s staying out of a sense of duty and to prevent Boris or Jeremy making everything a damn sight worse which they assuredly would, then surely she is deserving of a modicum of my pity?

Theresa may, or may not, be a poor excuse for a leader but better a poor excuse than an egotistical maniac or a Trotskyite.

Hang in there Theresa. A Sainthood may not be your destiny – there’s already a St Theresa anyway – and history may well not shine a very impressive light on your Premiership. Indeed, your popularity in general is nigh on non-existent, but, should you fold you may well be remembered more fondly than anyone considers likely if you leave the field open to Boris or Jeremy.

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