Today, we saw the best side of Theresa May

Theresa May has three faces that she shows to the world: the Brexit Boudicca, the dull technocrat (her default mode) and then what we saw today: the optimistic globalist. This act, that tends to come out only in set-piece speeches, portrays her as an open-hearted, funny and even (at times) inspiring Prime Minister. The speech today was perhaps the best she has given.

Politics isn’t about governing. It’s about making and winning arguments, telling captivating stories, winning people over. And this afternoon, she told stories: of penniless migrants from the Punjab whose son went on to become (her) Home Secretary. Of a mother-to-be, soon to marry her girlfriend and still lead (her) party in Scotland. And about a party that cares for the NHS not because of the size of spending (although that did get a mention) but because senior Tories use and even depend on the NHS. It helped her Housing Secretary recover from cancer, and NHS care regularly helps her manage her Type-1 diabetes.