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Theresa May witty speech about the Queen

178 replies

83DanishMum · 09/09/2022 13:02

Has anyone happened to just see Theresa May's tribute to the Queen in the commons? My goodness she was heartwarming, kind and very funny with real comic timing! I had no idea she was so witty! It never came across during her PMship.

Anyway, anyone feeling sad or a bit empty today - it's worth a watch.

OP posts:
FeatherBlower · 09/09/2022 18:24

MissMarplesNiece · 09/09/2022 13:14

It made me think that Teresa May is most likely not as staid & boring as she came across when she was PM. I think she's probably very good company.

This is fairly common I think. Lots of MPs and PMs are very different to what we see as leaders due to all the constraints and other people pulling the strings. Gordon Brown had a shit time as PM, but he’s a smart man with good ideas and is very warm and kind. But there is so much more going on behind the scenes than we ever get to know.

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2022 18:29

PifandHercule · 09/09/2022 17:05

I agree with some of the comments about Truss’s speech being a bit wooden but let’s cut her some slack - she’s had such a hard first week as PM and also didn’t know rhe Queen all that well.
Confirmed as the new PM on Monday, met the Queen on Tuesday, had her first PMQ on Wednesday, the Queen passed away on Thursday, meeting the new King on Friday….

I think in a sense its a good that Truss was more or less just functional rather than a personality.

It was arguably her big week, but in being wooden / boring / whatever the spotlight falls on the Queen.

She had a big week to deal with WITHOUT the extra burden of having to attend a bunch of unexpected engagments and think about the funeral.

She possibly has had barely any time at all to think about a speech much less write one, unlike Johnson, Starmer, Harman, May - all of whom may well have had something preprepared to an extent. Johnson's speech did make me think he knew her death was very imminent. Truss has had the summer to campaign and put a new team together for no10 and to think of a plan for the cost of living crisis.

To illustrate the point, the privvy council meeting that got cancelled on Wednesday was a swearing in of members of Cabinet to their official roles. Until this is done they are limited to what powers they legally have. The result is that 'work arounds' have had to be found on a functional level, yesterday and today. Instead parliament will be sitting in an extra session tomorrow - a Saturday, in part to allow for this swearing in ahead of the official appointment of the King tomorrow.

The big thing is 'it wasn't about her' and she didn't try to make a witty anecdote. She possibly hasn't had as much contact with the Queen as some of the others. Saying something understated may have been deliberate and indeed wise. It might have backfired if she told a witty story. It might well be inappropriate ahead of her meeting with Charles. Better perhaps to 'shine' more further down the line.

Her job now is to build a relationship with Charles. The two of them need to get on and be able to lean on each other. In this sense, letting her emotions run away ahead of being one of the first to meet the new King is a big deal.

She now has to think about how she will be greeting many of the world's leaders just two weeks into the job. Imagine how daunting that must be to think of in terms of bollocks like getting the ettiquete right and not upsetting various heads of state by getting it wrong. Biden has already indicated he wants to come - its likely its going to be a pretty full house.

Its a moment of huge significance and importance to the UK to use as a opportunity to centre ourselves and ensure that the soft power of the Monarchy continues. Its difficult to overstate this.

Good luck to Liz. She's going to need it over the next couple of weeks. I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt. Ultimately I want a PM who is serious and boring and actually does policy well not PR and photo ops well.

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2022 18:32

I have a feeling that Truss has to do stoic in a way that others don't. They can be emotional. I'm not sure her showing emotion would have served her well...

girlmom21 · 09/09/2022 18:32

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2022 18:32

I have a feeling that Truss has to do stoic in a way that others don't. They can be emotional. I'm not sure her showing emotion would have served her well...

Starmer remained stoic but warm though.

Mummysharkargggggggg · 09/09/2022 18:35

I've enjoyed watching the House of Commons today, I think we got to see a different side to many of the politicians and they all had lovely things to say about Elizabeth the great as Boris called her x

Seiheiki · 09/09/2022 18:39

I posted this on another thread this week.

I moved into the same lane as Theresa and Phillip May. Immediately afterwards I was taken life threateningly seriously ill. I not even introduced myself to neighbours before ambulances and helicopters appeared.

Whilst at the busiest, most demanding point in her career, they both went out of the way to help me. Meals cooked, dog walked for me etc. Two of the most genuine people that you will ever meet in your life, regardless of your political stance. They showed me incredible kindness when I was at my lowest. I will never forget that.

Eeiliethya · 09/09/2022 18:41

I'm not a fan of the twat but Boris's speech was my favourite. Just the way he conveyed her service and included her military background etc. moved me.

DuntheRiver · 09/09/2022 18:42

Sharrowgirl · 09/09/2022 17:39

When Theresa May was PM, she still went to her constituency every week and did her MP surgery, listening to complaints about double yellow lines and wheelie bin collections.

She's my MP and whilst my politics are absolutely nothing like hers I've got quite a soft spot for her because she's a great MP, hard working and actually quite charming. Its nice to see her lose the stiffness she had as PM; it was never my experience of her as one of her constituents.

Blossomtoes · 09/09/2022 18:47

Ultimately I want a PM who is serious and boring and actually does policy well not PR and photo ops well.

I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I want Starmer.

UrsulaTitchener · 09/09/2022 19:14

Blossomtoes · 09/09/2022 18:47

Ultimately I want a PM who is serious and boring and actually does policy well not PR and photo ops well.

I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I want Starmer.

Me too.

UrsulaTitchener · 09/09/2022 19:17

Seiheiki · 09/09/2022 18:39

I posted this on another thread this week.

I moved into the same lane as Theresa and Phillip May. Immediately afterwards I was taken life threateningly seriously ill. I not even introduced myself to neighbours before ambulances and helicopters appeared.

Whilst at the busiest, most demanding point in her career, they both went out of the way to help me. Meals cooked, dog walked for me etc. Two of the most genuine people that you will ever meet in your life, regardless of your political stance. They showed me incredible kindness when I was at my lowest. I will never forget that.

Wow!

DuntheRiver · Today 18:42
Sharrowgirl · Today 17:39
When Theresa May was PM, she still went to her constituency every week and did her MP surgery, listening to complaints about double yellow lines and wheelie bin collections.
She's my MP and whilst my politics are absolutely nothing like hers I've got quite a soft spot for her because she's a great MP, hard working and actually quite charming. Its nice to see her lose the stiffness she had as PM; it was never my experience of her as one of her constituents.

I'm not a constituent, but have heard this from friends who are.

Philip May is high up on the top husbands list, isn't he.

Fizbosshoes · 09/09/2022 19:42

Boris Johnson started his speech with an anecdote about being approached by a reportere and asked to speak about the Queen in the past tense. So he probably had advance warning to come up with something. I thought his and Teresa Mays speeches were very good.

girlmom21 · 09/09/2022 19:48

Fizbosshoes · 09/09/2022 19:42

Boris Johnson started his speech with an anecdote about being approached by a reportere and asked to speak about the Queen in the past tense. So he probably had advance warning to come up with something. I thought his and Teresa Mays speeches were very good.

BBC News have been doing this for years in preparation. They're showing the videos Charles and Edward did today. They'll probably have done the same with at least the last 5 prime ministers in preparation.

Angelil · 09/09/2022 20:23

BoJo may be good with words but it’s all a cover-up for the fact he is a liar and a charlatan. The first minute of his speech was all ‘me me me’ too. He can’t bear not being PM at this time.

Starmer and May were both excellent. Sadly the entirety of Harman’s speech doesn’t seem to be available online but I liked what I could find.

as for Truss…well. I’ve seen frozen chickens with more personality.

Angelil · 09/09/2022 20:33

BoJo May have seemed genuine but he specialises in doing that and not meaning a word of it.

I am also one of May’s constituents and she goes out of her way to get to know the local people. She is really very well-liked.

Spck · 09/09/2022 20:41

@Seiheiki what a wonderful thing for them to do. Thank you for sharing that - it shows they must be genuinely caring people.

upinaballoon · 09/09/2022 20:44

This is revoltingly shallow of me, but as well as enjoying the cheese story, I liked the way that Teresa May's nails matched her beads.

83DanishMum · 09/09/2022 20:47

To those saying how decent she is...Don't get me wrong, I always thought Theresa May had integrity - it was obvious. (Even though I'm not a Tory voter). But I just never realised what a cracking speaker she was and what a great sense of comic timing and delivery she has!

I guess the Brexit negotiations didn't really offer her many opportunities to show that side of her.

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 09/09/2022 21:09

Theresa May always wore nice shoes back in the day too! She is very classy.
It's a shame the conservatives ( Boris Johnson ) stabbed her in the back :(

blepp · 09/09/2022 21:25

Seiheiki · 09/09/2022 18:39

I posted this on another thread this week.

I moved into the same lane as Theresa and Phillip May. Immediately afterwards I was taken life threateningly seriously ill. I not even introduced myself to neighbours before ambulances and helicopters appeared.

Whilst at the busiest, most demanding point in her career, they both went out of the way to help me. Meals cooked, dog walked for me etc. Two of the most genuine people that you will ever meet in your life, regardless of your political stance. They showed me incredible kindness when I was at my lowest. I will never forget that.

I am not a Tory but that is lovely of them. She's gone up in my estimation today.

Iadorerain · 09/09/2022 22:33

Theresa May was shafted by Boris and the press. She had too much integrity. She also had negotiated a brilliant Brexit deal in spite of being a remainer. Boris failed to come up with a deal as good as hers

MadeWithCare · 10/09/2022 07:57

Of all the crappy things Boris has done, destroying Teresa May (and her Brexit deal) and depriving the country of a decent, competent prime minister is one of the worst.

the80sweregreat · 10/09/2022 08:17

MadeWithCare · 10/09/2022 07:57

Of all the crappy things Boris has done, destroying Teresa May (and her Brexit deal) and depriving the country of a decent, competent prime minister is one of the worst.

I agree

Alexandra2001 · 10/09/2022 08:18

83DanishMum · 09/09/2022 20:47

To those saying how decent she is...Don't get me wrong, I always thought Theresa May had integrity - it was obvious. (Even though I'm not a Tory voter). But I just never realised what a cracking speaker she was and what a great sense of comic timing and delivery she has!

I guess the Brexit negotiations didn't really offer her many opportunities to show that side of her.

Teressa May is a big hit on the after dinner speech circuit, esp in the USA, she has made over £2m in fees since resigning as PM.

So i'd be very surprised if she wasn't any good.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10898503/Former-PM-Theresa-paid-109-000-FIVE-hour-talk.html

Moonlightdust · 10/09/2022 19:00

Yes I was saying this to my mum today - she appeared rather stony faced as PM - I wish she had of showed this side to her! I felt it was a wonderful heartwarming speech.