Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
The right-wing responses to Theresa May’s latest grilling show she isn’t fooling anyone
Theresa May refused to face Jeremy Corbyn in a one-on-one debate. Instead, she opted to take turns being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman and a live studio audience. Many people thought that May once more put in a weak and wobbly performance. Others thought that she outperformed her dire showings so far. But it’s clear that she’s lost the good will that many people had for her. And not for the first time, it’s clear among the very voters she’s reliant on.
Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage has commented that, as Prime Minister, May has adopted much of his rhetoric. This is significant, because UKIP polling numbers have shrunk as the Conservatives’ have risen.
Farage is not ignorant, though, and he acknowledges that May’s conversion to ‘Faragism’ is likely to be insincere. He was clear about who was sincere, though. And it will give his supporters pause for thought:
I may not agree with @jeremycorbyn but he came across as being totally sincere. Paxman didn't score any goals .
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 29, 2017
Read on...
Saying 'no deal is better than a bad deal' 4 times will win the May the election. But she is a weathercock who believes in very little.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 29, 2017
The Daily Mail
The Daily Mail‘s comment sections are so famously far-right that there are accounts dedicated to showing just how toxic they are (click to scroll through images):
YOUR COMMENTS: This morning Mail readers have been discussing who should be allowed in the country… pic.twitter.com/NSnSwChe2J
— The DM Reporter (@DMReporter) May 19, 2017
The person running this account has noticed a recent change in comments, however:
YOUR COMMENTS: In the 7yrs I’ve been running this account I’ve never seen such open hatred for the Tories in the comments section. pic.twitter.com/P6TRodWlpY
— The DM Reporter (@DMReporter) May 29, 2017
And that change was fully evident following May’s interview by Paxman:
#BattleForNumber10: Russians stop hacking the Mail Online comments section. Or start hacking it. It’s hard to know what’s real anymore. pic.twitter.com/SPsLdiX5cy
— The DM Reporter (@DMReporter) May 29, 2017
ELECTION: Twice the Mail claim Corbyn lost the #BattleForNumber10 and twice their readers correct them… pic.twitter.com/fIo0Bpj525
— The DM Reporter (@DMReporter) May 30, 2017
Voters
If the shrinking poll margins are to be believed, the exodus of Labour voters to the Tories seems to have stopped. There are also signs that the Conservatives could in fact lose voters to Labour. And the main concern seems to be Theresa May herself:
Yes indeed I've voted Tory for 40 plus years but not any more it's clear Corbyn has the winning arguments & regrettably May doesn't Vote Lab
— John Edwards #FBPE #PCPEU (@Johnfrededdy) May 29, 2017
Never considered voting Labour before tonight, after #BattleForNumber10 it's a strong possibility
— KTP (@kevthepunter) May 29, 2017
I'm voting @UKLabour for the first time. (Tory voter until GE2010.) #BattleForNumber10 debate just reinforced my decision.
— Lisa Katsiaris (@louloufrascatti) May 29, 2017
The final stretch
It’s clear that May has lost support and favourability among voters. It’s also obvious that many still expect a victory for her party. And this mixture of apathy and expectation could be dangerous for the Tories. Especially if, on the day, Conservative voters expecting an assured victory use their vote to protest May’s deeply unpopular manifesto.
This isn’t something we should sit back and hope for, though. The Tories are losing support because voters are seeing them for what they are. And they are also seeing that Labour is a viable alternative.
It’s time to hammer that message home.
Get Involved!
– Get out there and vote on 8 June.
– Discuss the key policy issues with family members, colleagues and neighbours. And organise! Join (and participate in the activities of) a union, an activist group, and/or a political party.
– Also read more Canary articles on the 2017 general election.
– Support The Canary if you value the work we do.
Featured image via YouTube
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
Support us 
