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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Guardian readers and Rachel Obordo

'How dare she claim she's on my side': readers on May's statement

Theresa May makes a statement inside number 10 Downing Street in London, on Wednesday
Theresa May makes a statement inside number 10 Downing Street in London, on Wednesday. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Pool/EPA

‘She’s as crap at being a demogogue as she is at being prime minister’

May’s speech last night is a desperate, last ditch attempt to rescue her premiership. She’s trying to bypass parliament and appeal to the people, but playing this populist card has one obvious drawback for Theresa May – she’s massively unpopular, has no charisma and can communicate only didactically. This approach is doomed to failure simply because she’s as crap at being a demagogue as she is at being prime minister. MarcusVAgrippa

‘Below the belt and potentially dangerous’

Last night’s announcement was seriously below the belt and potentially dangerous. She must have known this, no excuse for her actions. Also Corbyn should not have walked, no matter how much he dislikes the tiggers. MadBloris

‘We will look back and reflect on what a terrible set of political leaders we were handed’

I am convinced we will look back at this time and reflect on what a terrible set of political leaders we were handed. Theresa May, when political persuasion and consensus were most needed, glances over the Atlantic and thinks going full Trumpian blaming the political elites is the best last roll of the dice. Jeremy Corbyn, not content to let May have her moment, once again rolled up his principles into a knife and turned it on himself. Everyone who didn’t want to discuss May’s incompetence had a fresh new scab to pick at. At least it avoided him having to sit down and explain his position. And the others wish everyone would compromise to exactly what they think is correct. We are truly blessed. JonnyHTFC

‘Such division and hate is the domain of the dictator’

Her speech was a masterclass. If you want to learn anything about leadership, in about two minutes flat she displayed almost the entirety of the textbook definitions of what a leader should not do. Such division and hate is the domain of the dictator. The question is, who the fuck is advising her that this is a good idea. May is a far right authoritarian with the interpersonal skills of a speak your weight machine, but she is not alone in this. Her entire team appear to be attempting a coup to install her as, well I guess they are thinking chancellor at this point. Nogbadthebadshat

‘This is a fiasco and a gaffe’

This woman must go, together with all those politicians that brought this utterly terrible mess upon us. What was democratic about the 2016 referendum with all the vital information about what Brexit actually meant missing or not readily available to the electorate? Who honestly stopped to think then, of the actual implications or what the day after Brexit would look like? What exactly was the exit strategy? This is a fiasco and a gaffe, highly damaging for the UK reputation, and someones must pay for it, in a truly democratic way! BeeAware

‘I was disgusted by her blame-shifting’

I watched her yesterday from the point of view of one of the ‘‘people’’ she claimed to speak for and was disgusted by her blame-shifting - she took words originally aimed at her by EU leaders and flipped them around to aim at MPs. When you watch it again and imagine you are an MP - well, no wonder so many of them are raging. And to say it is Trump-like is not an exaggeration. kristinezkochanski

‘How dare she claim she is on my side’

How dare this vile individual claim she is on my side. She has destroyed the reputation and likely the economy of my country and has sought to sell out my freedom to move and work on my continent. I can only blame parliament for not consigning her sooner to the dustbin of history, but surely she cannot be allowed to continue as PM any longer since she now has run out of people to blame. Nic Oatridge

‘I’m ever more fearful of what she has unleashed’

That was a new low point for May. Fair enough, she was dealt a crap hand, but she was the one who’s tried to play it like she had four aces. Rather than being realistic, and bringing all sides into the discussion, she has and continues to pander to the ERG and die hard Brexiteers in her party and the country. She has ignored, and insulted those who didn’t vote for this sh*tfest, and now claims to be on the public’s side? She’s delusional.

Whatever your perspective on the referendum, her crass blame game nonsense is disingenuous and dangerous. Parliamentary sovereignty in a representative democracy is key. I might not agree with their stance on a number of issues, but it’s better to have our system, than some narcissist overlord, or a version of the hunger games deciding our future. May’s speech last night has simply cemented our polarisation as a nation, and I’m ever more fearful of what this blinkered women has unleashed. ID0981467

‘She brings shame upon this democracy’

I find it quite concerning that a PM, of one of the most respected democracies to have ever existed, is insulting the legislative. It’s as if she is absolving herself of any responsibility. A PM using a public address to try to turn the populace of a nation against their MPs is disgraceful. She brings shame upon this democracy and the sooner we are rid of her, the better. Also why anger the group of people you need to pass your deal. It’s bonkers. Kils Ramdeen-Lessey

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