Theresa May has just issued her much-anticipated telling off to Cabinet for the recent string of damaging leaks. Happily, the Prime Minister’s spokesman was on hand to (officially) leak details of the discussion on leaks to the press afterwards. May told her ministers that the leaks showed that some were not ‘taking their responsibilities seriously’. Urging them to change their ways, she said it was important that all Cabinet discussions remained private in order to allow an open discussion on policy:
‘There is a need to show strength and unity as a country and that starts around the cabinet table.’
Given that the Prime Minister’s spokesman yesterday told journalists that May was going to rebuke her MPs, the ticking off itself isn’t so surprising. However, what is striking is the language she used to frame her comments. May began by telling ministers that as Prime Minister she has introduced more genuine and collective discussion into Cabinet.
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