This weekend Theresa May discovered why it is a prime minister most fears events. After a well executed two-day charm offensive in America cementing the UK/US special relationship, the Prime Minister was plunged into a row over President Trump’s decision to stop travellers and refugees from seven Muslim countries gaining entry into the US. May’s sluggish response to condemn the move (after initially dodging the question in a press conference in Turkey) has led to her being branded ‘Theresa the appeaser’.
As Jeremy Corbyn appeared on Peston on Sunday to put pressure on the Prime Minister over her relationship with Trump, May borrowed a trick from Osborne and sent David Gauke to try and clear up the mess on the Andrew Marr show. Asked about the delay, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said what was important was not the amount of time a statement had taken but what May had said:
AM: Is that simply because we have to make nice to the Americans?
DG: I think Nadhim put his finger on it, the Prime Minister is not a shoot from the hip type of politician.
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