While the mainstream media fawns over Theresa May, the public can see right through her [TWEETS]

Theresa May’s attempt to take the ‘centre-ground’ in British politics has been met with approval from the mainstream media, but the public has been less enthusiastic.

In her conference speech on 4 October, she borrowed much of UKIP’s policy book to outline her vision for “a country that works for everyone”. She also took the opportunity to call Labour a “nasty party”. And corporate media outlets appear to have united to champion her cause.

Fleet Street cheerleading for the Tories

The Daily Mail declared that “May fights for ordinary Britons”, echoing The Telegraph which reported that she “vows to help workers”.

Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun described May’s speech as “masterful” and described her as promoting a “system that works for ordinary working class families”. Meanwhile, sister paper The Times wrote that: “May used her conference address to paint a picture of Britain where talent and effort would be rewarded.”

Even the BBC, a supposedly independent body, declared that the Conservatives would “restore fairness” and “spread prosperity”. And its political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, penned a separate article in which she talked of May’s “change of direction from her predecessor”.

Those hoping to find a more critical analysis in the left-wing press will be disappointed. Although mentioning Jeremy Corbyn’s criticisms of the PM’s address, The Guardian offered few of its own, repeating Kuenssberg’s view that May “offered a deliberate rejection of the legacy of Thatcherism” and had “appealed to disaffected Labour voters”.

Social media

As usual, those wishing to read or share a different perspective had to take to the internet. On Twitter, comedian David Schneider summed up the situation, in a particularly apt series of tweets:

https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/783648521916452865

https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/783769158878105600

Scottish paper The National was even more scathing, calling May’s vision for the UK disgusting, xenophobic, and repellent.

And online, others pointed out May’s similarities to other political figures:

Marine Le Pen of the French National Front congratulated Theresa May on her hateful speech. Everyone feeling patriotic this morning? #BLUKIP

— Rachael Swindon #WeAreCollective (@Rachael_Swindon) October 6, 2016

Today's speech by #TheresaMay was xenophobic, patronising & inaccurate. She's nothing more than a cheap Adolf Hitler in drag!#Conservatives

— An Ordinary Man (@Marillionmark) October 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/Michael88445/status/783633106267938816

Information, or indoctrination?

The congratulatory tone across the UK media can be contrasted starkly with the treatment of the Labour leadership. When Jeremy Corbyn or John McDonnell talk, with conviction, of workers’ rights or clamping down on the tax avoidance and exploitative practices of the super-rich, they are lambasted as Marxists or clowns. Yet when May pays lip service to the same notions, probably through fear of their growing popularity, she is applauded.

With the May era now well underway, carrying echoes of some dark periods of twentieth-century history, a brave and independent media is more important than ever. Sadly, our mainstream outlets remain, by and large, mouthpieces for the establishment.

Those seeking honest analysis must continue to look elsewhere.

You can watch the Prime Minister’s final conference speech here: