Theresa May ‘Irritated’ by Leadership Speculation

Theresa May has said she gets “irritated” by the ongoing speculation over her position as prime minister.

In an interview to mark the six-month countdown to Brexit, May told the BBC the debate should be about the country’s future rather than her own.

The prime minister’s comments came days after Conservative MPs opposed to her Brexit plan met to discuss how and when they could force her to stand down.

The premier also criticized ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson. May said his language was “completely inappropriate” when he described her Brexit strategy as putting the UK in a “suicide vest”.

The UK is leaving the European Union on March 29, 2019, and the government’s plan—agreed at Chequers in July—has sparked criticism from Brexiteer Tories as well as the EU.

About 50 Brexiteer members of the European Research Group met on Tuesday to discuss a leadership challenge.

Asked if she would reassure the Tory party that she was not determined to go on and on, she told the BBC’s Panorama program, “I get a little bit irritated but this debate is not about my future. This debate is about the future of the people of the UK and the future of the United Kingdom … That’s what I’m focused on and that’s what we should all be focused on.”

“It’s ensuring that we get that good deal from the European Union which is good for people in the UK, wherever they live in the UK, that’s what’s important for us.”