Theresa May’s resignation speech was ‘abhorrent’ and ‘disgraceful’

Theresa May


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Theresa May has finally announced her resignation. In a statement on 24 May, she told the UK that she’ll step down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday 7 June. The announcement comes after days, if not months, of speculation over when she’ll leave. But many people found May’s resignation speech “abhorrent”.

“Abhorrent”

The timing of her resignation means that May will still welcome Donald Trump for his state visit on 3 June. In a speech outside Downing Street, May said:

It is, and will always remain, a matter of deep regret that I have not been able to deliver Brexit.

So she’s now the second prime minister forced to resign over Brexit. She went on to insist that the way forward to deliver Brexit could only come “if those on all sides of the debate are willing to compromise”. Although this may refer to Conservative hard-Brexiteers, there was a hint that she also placed some of the blame on Jeremy Corbyn. She seemingly ignored the fact that she faced the largest ever defeat in parliament and failed to get her version of Brexit through three times.

Corbyn called for a general election ‘immediately’:

May also quoted Nicholas Winton who saved 669 children from Nazis in WW2 by bringing them to the UK. Many people felt this reference was “abhorrent” and “disgraceful” given May’s track record whilst in office:

May also mentioned “the tragedy” of the Grenfell Tower fire. She claimed victory for the independent inquiry, that she said was set up:

to search for the truth, so nothing like it can ever happen again, and so the people who lost their lives that night are never forgotten.

Again, many responded with anger:

Although May tried to use her speech to set out what she saw as her ‘achievements’, many people who’ve suffered under Conservative-led austerity and May’s hostile environment spoke out:

At the end of her speech, May’s voice cracked and she seemed close to tears. But few people responded with any sympathy:

What next?

Although many people were happy to hear that May is finally resigning, it’s unlikely the next Conservative leader will be any better:

Labour’s Marsha de Cordova also called for a general election:

So June will see the end of May. This will leave the UK with yet another unelected prime minister. So the calls are rising and will continue to rise for a general election and the end of the Tories.

Featured image via screengrab

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