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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if anyone can explain why Theresa May is refusing to do any live interviews when she called this election?

254 replies

Bearbehind · 02/06/2017 09:51

As far as I can see TM called this GE because she arrogantly assumed she'd walk it.

Unfortunately for her JC has upped his game and every time someone poses a question to her she rattles off some soundbite starting with 'let me be clear...' and completely ignores he question.

Can anyone defend the fact that she wouldn't participate in the live tv debate and now won't do any radio interviews either?

Shouldn't we be able to expect more from a PM?

OP posts:
DinnerIsServed · 02/06/2017 09:57

She's done individual live tv interviews (and I believe there are more coming) so your question is not only repetitive of 100s of other q's on here but woefully inaccurate.
And someone said that it was the Tories posting all the biased questions on here Hmm

rosie1959 · 02/06/2017 09:57

Think you will find she is on Question Time tonight

PenPineapplePen · 02/06/2017 09:58

She has done phone-in interviews; they were really interesting.

Buscake · 02/06/2017 10:06

It's bizarre. She's not doing women's hour, and neither is her stand-in Amber Rudd. They're an absolute shambles!

ImperialBlether · 02/06/2017 10:07

Rosie, Question Time was on last night and she wasn't on it.

Orlantina · 02/06/2017 10:08

Rosie, Question Time was on last night and she wasn't on it

It's a special.

But she's not going head to head against people. Just herself and the audience.

She's worried about debating with people. #weakandwobbly

CheeseandGherkins · 02/06/2017 10:09

I don't think she can debate, which is why she keeps refusing to do them. She doesn't look comfortable at all.

MoosicalDaisy · 02/06/2017 10:13

Theresa May has ran out of Tresemme

ImperialBlether · 02/06/2017 10:15

I got so infuriated with her last interview - she didn't answer one question.

noblegiraffe · 02/06/2017 10:17

She certainly can't answer questions. She wouldn't even answer whether she'd watched the debate with Amber Rudd. Ask her her favourite crisp flavour and she'd just wang on about how crisps are important to the economy so she was getting out there and talking to voters.

OddBoots · 02/06/2017 10:18

Because she isn't very good at dealing with people disagreeing with her in things like debates and negotiations, she just digs her heels in so she doesn't have to do any actual thinking or discussing. She can't afford for people to realise that when she has sold herself as queen negotiator of brexit.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 02/06/2017 10:18

I know she has done some but, with less than a week to go she's copping out of them now

She was supposed to be on woman's Hour this morning and opted out at the last minute.

She sent Amber Rudd, who's father had just died, to the live TV debate.

She's told the BBC that she won't do any local radio interviews.

The location of her campaign visits is being kept secret until the last minute then she only sees closed audiences.

Why would someone who wants to be elected in 6 days time be running scared like this for any other reason than they're actually incapable of doing the job properly and don't want to be found out until it's too late?

I'm genuinely interested to see if anyone can justify her actions atm.

OP posts:
PinguPaws · 02/06/2017 10:19

I don't think she Is good at thinking on her feet. I also feel it was particularly bad form to send out Amber Rudd to the televison debate 2 DAYS after Rudds father had died. Such a cowardly thing to do.

chemenger · 02/06/2017 10:21

She is completely unable to answer a straight question. Its like an exam paper when the student answers the question they were hoping for, not the one that's been set (I've just spent what seems like a lifetime marking such answers). I think at this point if someone asked her what her name is the answer would start "That is something that we will be consulting widely on..."

Orlantina · 02/06/2017 10:22

She's certainly not strong and stable. Have people noticed that she's dropped that slogan from her rhetoric now?

BertrandRussell · 02/06/2017 10:23

Because she's not very good at it. She isn't very good at PMQs either.

That doesn't necessarily mean she wouldn't be good at being Prime Minister, but the more she appears the less likely she is to win. It's a calculated risk.

chemenger · 02/06/2017 10:24

Ask her her favourite crisp flavour and she'd just wang on about how crisps are important to the economy so she was getting out there and talking to voters.

While we know Corbyn like a salt and vinegar Pringle www.indy100.com/article/jeremy-corbyn-pringle-internet-meme-cambridge-bbc-debate-election-2017-7766886

Alexis1983 · 02/06/2017 10:24

She doesn't do the live TV debates because she knows they're pointless. The only outcome of the BBC one the other day was that Theresa May was not there, not much discussion on any actual plans for the country. The debates are just a bunch of people attacking each other, and no one is able to discuss their policies and their visions for the country before they're interrupted. May rightly thinks TV debates are a waste of time.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 02/06/2017 10:26

Can anyone find a clip where Diane Abbott answers a question (apart from the police / £30 one)?

It's infuriating when they don't answer questions. Totally arrogant. I think they should be told to either answer the question or quit.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 02/06/2017 10:26

That doesn't necessarily mean she wouldn't be good at being Prime Minister, but the more she appears the less likely she is to win

That statement makes no sense to me.

I agree with the last part but question how she can be a good PM if she cannot answer questions and be seen to be the figurehead of her party- surely that's the whole point of being the Prime Minister?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bearbehind · 02/06/2017 10:29

So what about 1 to 1 radio interviews then alexis?

Is it a waste of time for her to be answering questions about her policies and plans for the future there too?

If so, where and when should those things be discussed in the run up to a GE?

OP posts:
ToastDemon · 02/06/2017 10:29

It certainly won't make her a very good Brexit negotiator.
As for Boris....

PumpkinPiloter · 02/06/2017 10:30

I think it is for 2 reasons.

Firstly she does not come across well in debates.

Secondly their are so many unpopular policies within their manifesto such as selling off NHS assets and further cuts to education and social care that I am guessing she would rather avoid answering questions in general.

Instead they are choosing to run their campaign based on character assassination and half truths.

Ceto · 02/06/2017 10:31

I keep getting stupid FB posts purportedly from her saying that only she can be trusted to negotiate Brexit. Given that she couldn't hold her own in debate with Paxman and Corbyn, why on earth would I think she stands a chance in hell of negotiating with Merkel and Macron?

Orlantina · 02/06/2017 10:31

She doesn't do the live TV debates because she knows they're pointless

People are able to see her discuss the issues with other politicians. You can see the passion that people like Corbyn, Lucas and Farron have.

At least they believe in something.

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