oh dear PMs going to get a lot of hate well deserved.

[hayli]

may couldn't have the decency to visit the victims of Grenfell tower ' due to security threat'
but HM the queen and Prince William were OK to show kindness to those effected.

Dixie - wouldn't risk it, that's a ridiculous thing to say.

Maid But why is it about her "looking someone in the eye"? She needs to get on with the business of understanding the cause, helping the victims and preventing another tragedy. I'll judge her on how well she does that, not by her personal interactions.

This shows a lack of empathy, but also an inability to think on her feet, to answer questions not scripted, to actually engage with the person sitting opposite her

But all that says is she's a poor TV interviewee. I've heard it said of HM Queen, for example, that in real life she's smart, dry and engaging - and that the TV men despair of the fact that all that is lost the minute she goes in front of the TV cameras.

If we judge politicians on how smooth they are in front of the TV cameras, we deserve what we get.

If we judge politicians on how smooth they are in front of the TV cameras, we deserve what we get.

Yes fair enough, I get your point. Donald Trump being a cautionary tale on that one. But the Queen wasn't elected, she didn't run for Queen, she didn't choose it. Her personality is what it is, and if public charisma isn't one of her strengths then so be it.

Theresa May chose to be a politician. She fought to be Prime Minister. Being able to engage with people, and answer difficult questions, and think on your feet is part of the job description.

It's like me auditioning to be a Prima Ballerina, somehow getting in, then complaining that it's not my fault I'm fat and can't do the splits.

She doesn't need to be smooth, in fact I hated 'Call me Dave' for precisely that trait. Christ, John Major was about as far from smooth and charismatic a PM as we could have had.

But she needs to answer a bloody question when its asked of her.

It's not just her, to be fair - all of the cabinet politicians of late have been of the same ilk. I think it's part of their media training.

They all have stock phrases:
"What I'm going to say is this..."
"and that is the reason why I've pledged..."

And they always talk in threes, that's a standard media trick. You give 3 examples, or 3 phrases. Blair did it, Cameron did it. It's a well known style of writing, hence why I'm convinced they're trained to speak that way: The Rule of Three

So when someone comes along who doesn't talk that way, it rings through like a bell

I think if Grenfell Tower had been a week earlier, or the election later, May would have been out for sure.

There's so much justified anger about Grenfell Tower. The more I hear about it the angrier I get.... not just the loss of life and the sheer terror the residents mst have felt but everything from RTB to gentrification to costcutting to attitudes to council housing.

Oh ffs. This speculation of her having HFA is a complete derail. I have HFA and would not be able to do tv and public appearances either, but I realise that makes being a politician an unsuitable role for me.

But the main thing is, look at her political track record. Her voting record. Those "go home" vans. This DUP thing. Then tell me that's a person with a huge wellspring of empathy merely masked by unfortunate social awkwardness.
And I will laugh in your face.

It's like me auditioning to be a Prima Ballerina, somehow getting in, then complaining that it's not my fault I'm fat and can't do the splits.

Let's use that analogy (I like it!) You see, I think it's like your auditioning to be a Prima Ballerina, being selected by the artistic director for your technical ability and then complaining that you get poor reviews because people say you're not as good looking as Darcey Bussell.

Ultimately, it's a problem because they need people to buy tickets, though, I do agree with that.....

Let's use that analogy (I like it!) You see, I think it's like your auditioning to be a Prima Ballerina, being selected by the artistic director for your technical ability and then complaining that you get poor reviews because people say you're not as good looking as Darcey Bussell.

But I think that doing the splits is a core skill needed to be a Prima Ballerina. More important than being good looking like Darcey Bussell. And you wouldn't get people defending me saying "Oh go easy on her, she might have some sort of undiagnosed condition that prevents her from doing the splits".

I could be the most gorgeous ballerina the world has ever seen, but if I can't do the splits, I shouldn't do the job.

If TM can't answer questions, think on her feet, and empathise with the electorate, she shouldn't be PM - undiagnosed ASD or not.

If TM can't answer questions, think on her feet, and empathise with the electorate, she shouldn't be PM

Well, arguably she shouldn't, because that's clearly what the electorate wants. Whether they should want that is a moot point. But I accept that a lot of people do.

Plus - think of it another way - different times can require different strengths to be brought to the fore. Winston Churchill is revered as a Great War leader (I cannot write this without autocorrect capitalising it! I'm aware this changes the meaning), but he wasn't the man for the postwar moment. A year ago, May was the best compromise candidate post Brexit because of her ambiguous stance on the EU and her domestic experience. But the times they are a changin'.....

different times can require different strengths to be brought to the fore That's very true, I agree.

And I can see why people thought TM had the level head to get us through Brexit. I did actually like her back then.

I think she's shown a distinct lack of backbone, and people are surprised, they thought she had the balls to get this thing sorted but she has crumbled under pressure.

Her PMQs are all scripted. Ignore the question from the opposition an then on the last question from Corbyn, throw in a soundbite that's irrelevant at the end.

She also knows which Labour MPs are going to ask question and throws in a nasty comment at the end.

These are some of her PMQ responses

"When I look at the issue of Brexit—or, indeed, at any other issue, such as the national health service or social care—I consider the issue, I set out my plan and I stick to it. It is called leadership; he should try it sometime."

Nobody remember the flack Margaret Thatcher got for visiting tragedies before the queen? The comments were vitriolic. The woman can't do right for doing wrong.

This furore reminds me of when Diana Princess of Wales died. HM the Queen was heavily criticised at the time for not appearing and emoting as TV and print media wanted. I don't know to what extent the PM's visits and consultations regarding the events of Grenfell tower have been used by the media to stir up feeling, but I do question their motives. Does the media wish to imply that if TM didn't behave in this way or that in front of the cameras then it didn't happen?

It has occurred to me that TM's lack of a stance on Brexit before the referendum is quite telling. Not that she was neutral and strong. But that she actually has no opinions.

She is totally out of her depth now, and has been since she decided to it was advised to call an election. I actually do think she cares that people have died and is saddened by it, she just doesn't have the leadership abilities to deal with it.

Incidentally, I assume there is no Queen's speech on Monday? No actual deal with DUP?

The wider point to bear in mind is that we can all lose out by too much focus on personality and outward appearance. I know a chap who has worked at the highest levels within the Labour Party; he's a lovely man with an incredible intellect. He would be a huge asset to politics. He won't do it because he can't face the personal abuse and the impact that would have on his family. I would feel exactly the same. At the rate we are going, the only people who will stand up and share their ideas in the political arena will be the self aggrandising and the self publicists. It'll be like Celebrity Big Brother for the graduate class. Terrifying thought.

Strong and stable leadership?

Actions speak louder than words.

Having met TM regularly w5 years or so ago she most certainly is not weak minded or lacking in empathy. If anything she plays the game less well than others hence the awful campaign but she is fundamentally more honest and grounded than many politicians.

If anything she plays the game less well than others hence the awful campaign but she is fundamentally more honest and grounded than many politicians

Her PMQs suggests she plays the game though. Just like Cameron did.

PMQs is a bit like a sixth form debating society, though. It's an old fashioned dance they have to go through.

PMQs is a bit like a sixth form debating society, though

Not sure of many 6th form debating societies are so full of personal attacks.

burntheblacksuit the queens speech will be on Wednesday, it was announced the other day but has, understandably, been lost in the news this week.
It will be a real test of this government, even more so then a week ago. I think it is very telling that even the daily mail is not supporting TM (the sun still is though)

I like May.
I was saying to my son yesterday we have never had this kind of vitriolic comment by the left against a leader since Mrs Thatcher. I think sexism is at the hear of it - people don't like to admit it but they don't want a female prime minster. Well they will just have to put up with it because the people did not vote in Corbyn or the Labour party and thank goodness the people's will has prevailed.

Nothing surprises me anymore about her. Cold, distant, heartless, shambolic, arrogant, aloof, evil - I'm running out of words to describe her.

I genuinely feel like we're living in a dictatorship where the Dear Leader is being kept away from the proles - stage managed visits and then back to her ivory tower, whilst her subjects die around her.

Id love to have a female prime minister but not one who

• constantly u turns
• has little understanding of real life
• has continued with the failed austerity experiment
• cannot relate to people
• is hypocritical
• is willing to make alliances with the likes of the DUP and Donald Trump
• gives little evidence of caring about or even wanting to communicate with the people she governs

My dislike of TM has nothing to do with her sex