Caution isn’t working. Since the disastrous election, Theresa May has been walking on egg shells. Until recent scandals, the Cabinet remained largely unchanged despite grim behaviour from some members. Brexit negotiations have stalled despite a few U-turns here and there, and domestic policy has offered no refuge. Any initiatives at home have been tepid at best and gaffes dominate the political agenda. The government has seemed exhausted from the start, overwhelmed by the intricacies of leaving Europe.
The consequence? Theresa May is weaker than ever and Labour is stronger than ever; Brexit is heading over a cliff fuelled by internal Tory divisions. We await the skirmishes over the EU Withdrawal Bill with trepidation but Parliament, begrudgingly, has at least been given a vote on the final Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister has also lost control of events closer to home. Cabinet changes have been thrust upon her with replacements involving timid, minor reshuffles. She leads a divided party and a poor Cabinet with the media in full pursuit. What price Brexit for the Conservative Party now?
The consensus amongst those at the heart of government was that there would be no challenge to May or a consequent General Election for fear of something worse. That consensus is breaking down. Theresa May looks damaged and is almost certain to go sooner rather than later unless…unless…
Like a dying patient requiring resuscitation, she needs shock treatment. And that shock has to be self-delivered and involve the following: first, there must be a wholesale cabinet re-shuffle with those not up to the job (or disloyal) departing. There is no longer any room for the Boris Johnsons of this world. It is time to move a new generation of MPs into ministerial positions generally and the Cabinet in particular. Second, EU negotiations need to be kick started with the offer of a comprehensive financial settlement combined with full confirmation of the rights of EU citizens in the UK. Then a broad transition deal needs to be negotiated. Third, a sensational budget is required. This feels close to being the last throw of the dice. How about ‘war time powers’ to seize land for house building purposes and cutting the deficit through radical changes to some expensive pension tax reliefs (first mooted by George Osborne) which simply benefit the better off?
It is time Theresa May faced down the critics in her party and the media with bold actions. If it hastens her departure, then she can go with her head held high. Anything is better than death by a thousand humiliations and she just might rescue her government in the process.
Inside Right Politics 
Great piece Julian and agree on the something radical argument.
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Teresa May appears harder to find these days than Wally ( from the Where’s Wally books). There is a serious lack of leadership in that she has largely disappeared from the public eye, makes no statements on the issues the Government, and those the Conservatives are facing, be it sexual harassment, Brexit, or simply, Government policy.
As with other disasters, Election, Grenfell, Brexit, she becomes invisible and one wonders whether she can really handle the pressures of her office.
‘Strong and Stable’ has now become ‘Weak and Insecure’ and as you point out, and she must really up her game if she is to survive.
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