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

[Bearbehind]

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?

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

So why send Amber Rudd along? If it's a waste of time for the PM, surely it's an equal waste of time for the Home Secretary?

The location of her campaign visits is being kept secret until the last minute
I think you'll find that this is purely for security reasons. There was a stir a while ago (pre-election) because a document detailing her planned whereabouts was left on a train - with the current security climate you'd be crazy to publicise where someone like the PM is going.
Still, at least the OP has managed to get yet another Theresa May-bashing thread going.

I'm glad she is going to the question time one tonight, we need to see who we are voting for. Hiding away is not the way to win elections.

Alexis 1983 you state that TM said no to debates because they are a waste of time.

Do you not think if she thought she could improve her popularity/get more votes by taking part in the debates she would?

The truth is that her decision to not take part in the debates was purely tactical. The idea that they were deemed to be a waste of time is incredibly naive.

dinner, are you TM?

Corbyn and other party leaders seem to manage to go to events with crowds- why can't May?

Why are you happy that the person who wants you to choose her to lead the country for the next 5 years cannot and will not properly answer any questions about doing so?

In sure I read somewhere that incumbent PMs never ever do debates. Is that true?

Anyway also Amber Rudd wanted to do the debate as it's what her father would have wanted. I also read somewhere. Sorry can't remember where to source. Maybe on MN.

Still, at least the OP has managed to get yet another Theresa May-bashing thread going

It's not that hard. Considering she made the debate about her and Corbyn, she has failed to actually involve herself in real debate.

I would have thought she would have relished a 1-1 debate with Corbyn.

But that would have meant unscripted answers. And she's not good at that.

I think she's ill. She's going to win the election and then step down. She isn't doing the live debates as she's not up to it, and rather than appear ill and 'weak' she's seemingly shunning the process.

The above is obviously total conjecture and I have no inside info

In sure I read somewhere that incumbent PMs never ever do debates. Is that true

Remember "I agree with Nick"

Cameron, Milliband and Nick Clegg did.

I do hope she does the QT one tonight, I just wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't.

It does seem to be the case that every time she is put in front of the public her ratings go down.

I think that some people are good at the electioneering debate thing and some people aren't.
I think May would be a disastrous prime minister- but not because she isn't any good on the hustings. Her people have, I presume done a cost/benefit analysis of her appearing/not appearing.....

she's been on The One Show and talked about putting the bins out - what more do you want OP?

Serious political - unscripted - debate I am guessing!

Look we get it...

Teresa May - the devil

Jeremy Corbyn - the man who will save the country

Fwiw neither of them are particularly good in interviews.

Perhaps she is a fan of the phrase 'better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt'

I think she is out of her depth. The election was called on the back of Labou's poor showing in the polls. A lot of people could not understand the appeal of Jeremy Corbyn and assumed that the Labour Party would be annihalated . I guess this is because we had no way of knowing much about him. He seems to have been like the tortoise in the fable now.

This time last year she had no ambition to be PM. It was thrust upon her and I think she now regrets taking on the role.

Have been fascinated, in a car crash kind of way, by May's strategy.

At the beginning of the campaign, she made it clear that this was all about HER. She knew she was perceived as a strong and effective leader, so all the election material played on that, and talked about her abilities, with the words "Conservative Party" not even appearing much of the time.

And yet she's been hopeless. She sent Amber Rudd along to the leaders' debate and Justine Greening to the Woman's Hour interview. She seems terrified of answering any questions in case she says the wrong thing - witness the laughable Plymouth Herald interview. Am not a fan of Cameron, but in comparison with May he seems positively human.

The election was called on the back of Labou's poor showing in the polls

Remember Mrs. Merton

"So Prime Minister, you were massively up in the polls and thought Corbyn was unpopular. What made you call a general election?"

Are Tory voters on here frustrated by her absence?

If she's avoiding interacting with the public for security reasons that makes her absence even worse. Of course, as PM she is a target, but at the moment so is everyone else, and most of us don't have the luxury of 24/7 security. We still have to go on with our lives and do our jobs and don't get to hide behind closed doors. Put it another way, I was no fan of Thatcher, but she was also a target for terrorists (Grand Hotel Bomb) despite that there is no way she would have avoided publicly fighting a general election because of security issues.

I completely agree that she's out of her depth and regrets taking on the role.

I think she'll step down which ever way the election goes.

I love May's strategy. I hope she keeps it up!!👍

I cant even bear to watch TM anymore. I cant remember one question that she has actually answered, its all waffle and spin.

dinner, are you TM?
Corbyn and other party leaders seem to manage to go to events with crowds- why can't May?
Why are you happy that the person who wants you to choose her to lead the country for the next 5 years cannot and will not properly answer any questions about doing so?
Heaven forbid someone other than TM could be on here supporting her I mean, seriously?
She is going to events with crowds, but she'll not publicise them in advance because it's a security risk on account of her still being PM. As PM she's a bigger target than JC. She won't be deciding this aspect by herself, she'll be advised by the police. They'll say 'don't publish your whereabouts because some nutter might turn up & try to kill you'.
As far as I'm concerned she's answering questions just as thoroughly as any other politician & doesn't need to appear on a shouty panel to be seen as a credible PM. Just because you want to see her appear on every tv debate & interview doesn't mean that the election can't be run without it. I don't recall Sturgeon getting bollocked for not appearing.... Personally I'd rather see the deputies turn up for the group things while the leaders do the individual ones - that way you get to see who's behind the leader. Let's face it - who does JC have behind him that's credible? Diane Abbott?!!!! He couldn't risk putting her up there. He had to turn out himself. TM had alternatives (though I'd rather they kept Boris locked in a cupboard)

as far as I'm concerned she's answering questions just as thoroughly as any other policitian

Really dinner? Did you see this from the Plymouth Herald yesterday?

Reporters questions in bold. TM responses below.

Two visits in six weeks to one of the country's most marginal constituencies – is she getting worried?
"I'm very clear that this is a crucial election for this country."

Plymouth is feeling the effects of military cuts. Will she guarantee to protect the city from further pain?
"I'm very clear that Plymouth has a proud record of connection with the armed forces."

How will your Brexit plan make Plymouth better off?
"I think there is a better future ahead for Plymouth and for the whole of the UK."

Will you promise to sort out our transport links?
"I'm very clear that connectivity is hugely important for Plymouth and the South West generally."

Please could you tell me which of those answers are acceptable to you and why?

But she isn't going to events with the public, only with Tory party activists. I don't actually believe that is because of security concerns, I think it's because she doesn't cope well with unscripted questions from the general public. However, if it is being suggested that she is avoiding the public because of security, then that is shameful! Firstly, she is not the first PM to be in that position, and secondly she is in effect hiding away when the rest of us have to take our chances. What message does that send? As I've already said, Thatcher was actually the victim of a terrorist attack, she didn't use it as an excuse to hide from us.

That post was to dinner