Who actually is Theresa May?
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The election campaign is hotting up now and the country will be heading to the polls to choose the Prime Minister very soon. Yet hardly anyone knows who Theresa May really is. So, we’ve obviously got you covered with this unbiased and factual information article to help you get to the cold truth of our current, and possibly next, PM.
A vicar’s daughter and grammar school educated, Mrs May grew up in Oxfordshire and was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament in the House of Commons in 1997. In the 2010 election she was given the role of Home Secretary and maintained it until July this year when she became Prime Minister, making her the longest-serving Home Secretary for sixty years and second woman to hold the highest position in British politics.
During the European Union referendum, Theresa May lay relatively low – presumably this was so that when it came to the inevitable leadership contest, she would have the best chances as she had remained relatively impartial. The Maidenhead MP did make one speech in which she was labelled as a ‘reluctant remainer’ but that is insignificant now that she has the very important job of negotiating Britain’s exit from the EU.
As for the Prime Minister’s policies, there is already major controversy over her plans for education. In one of her first speeches as PM, Mrs May declared she wanted Britain to be a “meritocracy” and intends to bring grammar schools back from the grave they were buried in by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. Many have said that this policy promotes segregation from the age of eleven and discriminates against those less well-off while the Prime Minister remains firm in her belief that grammar schools “promote social mobility”.
During the Conservative Party Conference, Theresa May announced that she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which will officially initiate Britain’s exit from the European Union no later than March next year. This came as good news to the backbench Conservatives who pushed for a Brexit vote and those who believe we should get out as soon as possible. However, what many picked up on is the fact that Mrs May never mentioned anything about remaining in the Single Market – an essential part of Britain’s economy. As a result, there are people who believe we will still be in the EU at the end of this process as a compromise will have to be reached surrounding trade deals that suits Brussels.
She called a snap General Election just last month after previously categorically denying there would be one. Now her political future is in your hands.