Theresa May spent three years as prime minister trying — and failing — to do three things: deliver Brexit, unite her party and convince Brits that she had a personality.
Since leaving office and returning to the House of Commons as a backbench MP, May has found the key to the latter is to make her voice heard when she disagrees with Boris Johnson’s government — and to make faces when Michael Gove is talking.
After initially keeping a low profile, May has found her tongue as the coronavirus pandemic progressed.
From measured criticism to outright ridicule, POLITICO looks at six times the former prime minister has given No. 10 a headache.
Rishi Sunak’s first budget, March
When new Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged mass infrastructure spending alongside £30bn to protect the economy from coronavirus, it was welcomed by most of the Tory rank and file.
Not May.
She told the Commons that “although spending a lot of money may be popular†the government has to ensure it has “the restraint and caution that enables us to make the public finances continue to be strong in the future.â€
Her measured intervention was intended as a warning rather than an attack — stronger stuff was to come.
Coronavirus quarantine plans, June
A hastily put together quarantine plan prompted a more open attack from May.
The government’s introduction of a 14-day quarantine for overseas arrivals sparked a small rebellion in the Tory party, as MPs reacted angrily to the potential shut down of Britain’s tourism industry.
May was among them, openly criticizing the government for “bringing in measures to close Britain off from the rest of the world.â€
Her and other MPs’ concern was eventually heeded by the government, which introduced a large list of countries exempt from the rules weeks later.
David Frost’s appointment, later June
The replacement of May ally Mark Sedwill with Brexit negotiator David Frost as Johnson’s national security adviser gave May another chance to ask awkward questions of the government.
Facing Michael Gove, whom she initially sacked from the Cabinet upon becoming prime minister, May asked why the new national security adviser was a “political appointee with no proven expertise in national security.â€
A video of an angry May shaking her head during Gove’s answer was widely shared online, confirming her newfound status as one of the government’s many antagonists within their own party.
Internal Market Bill, September
May joined the U.K.’s four other living prime ministers in speaking out against the government’s Internal Market Bill, telling the Commons that the “reckless†bill would do “untold damage†to the U.K.’s reputation around the world.
Criticizing the aspect of the bill that ministers admitted would break international law, May said it would “weaken the U.K. in the eyes of the world†and she couldn’t support it.
Adding that world leaders currently trusted the U.K., she asked “where will that trust be in future, if they see a United Kingdom willing to break its word and break international law?â€
In the end, she elected not to vote against the bill, instead abstaining as the legislation comfortably passed through the Commons.
Planning reforms, October
The former home secretary once again found herself at the head of a Tory rebellion in early October, this time over government plans to reform the planning system to accelerate housebuilding.
Again speaking in the Commons, May urged ministers to “think again†on the plans, which she said would remove local decision-making and fail to deliver affordable homes.
She was joined by plenty of MPs and former allies in criticism, including her former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green.
“I would have thought the government might have abandoned algorithms by now,†she quipped in reference to a summer scandal that saw British teenagers awarded schools grades based on an algorithm.
Post-Brexit security, later October
May’s facial expressions made headlines again after she raised concerns that a failure to reach a deal with the EU could hamstring U.K. security.
Again addressing Michael Gove in the Commons, May asked him to confirm that a no-deal outcome would result in law enforcement agencies being unable to access EU crime databases, therefore hurting their ability to catch criminals.
Replying for the government, Gove told May that after Brexit — deal or no deal — the security services will be able to “intensify the security that we give to the British people.â€
A dumfounded May was caught on camera repeatedly saying “what?†while Gove spoke. Now not holding anything back, it was reported that she also mouthed “utter rubbish†after the cameras moved on.
