28/4/25
British Politics Week 10 - May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak
Lecture 1
● There were 5 different Prime Ministers (PMs) from 2016.
● 3 different PMs during 2022 alone.
The Cameron Legacy
● 2010-2015 - coalition with the Lib Dems
● Conservatives in power with a small majority.
● Economically liberal policies e.g. austerity.
● Some socially liberal policies e.g. same sex marriage.
● Result of Brexit referendum - 52% leave and 48% remain.
Theresa May
● Party chairman in 2022, May indicated that the Conservatives needed to change as
they were seen as ‘the nasty party’.
● However, as Home Secretary (2010-2016) she had a reputation for a tough approach
to immigration e.g. ‘hostile environment’ policy.
● Became Prime Minister in July 2016 after Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the Tory
leadership contest.
● Pledged to tackle ‘burning injustices’ in relation to inequalities.
Early Brexit steps…
● May pledged to unite the Conservative Party and implement Brexit
● January 2017 - However, Miller court case establishes that parliament must decide
on if the UK should leave the EU.
● March 2017 - May activated article 50.
● April 2017 - May calls snap General Election.
● June 2017 - Conservatives lose their parliamentary majority.
2017 General Election
● May’s Conservative Party had a 20 point lead in the opinion polls weeks before the
election, but ‘dementia tax’ policy was unpopular.
● Labour united for the election despite earlier in-fighting over Jeremy Corbyn’s
leadership.
● After a humiliating result, May was compelled to look for support from the Democratic
Ulster Party (DUP) to pursue Brexit.
Theresa May’s Governing Style
● Series, methodical, task-oriented approach to policy, centralised decision-making.
, ● Limited communication skills - sometimes referred to as ‘the Maybot’.
● Arguably made use of the ‘populist’ tactics - claiming to represent the will of the
people against MPs seeking to thwart her Brexit deal.
● Resilient under pressure, but unable to persuade enough colleagues of her approach
to Brexit.
May’s Wider Policies
● Economy - kept commitment to austerity measures aimed at reducing budget deficit;
new industrial strategy.
● Education - continued commitment to create more free schools, increased spending.
● NHS - commitment to improve mental health services; increased spending.
● Foreign Policy - maintaining ‘special relationship’ with US; kept 0.7% commitment on
international aid.
May’s Brexit Deal Offer - 2018
● UK to leave European Single market and Customs union as well as EU.
● Financial settlement for the ‘divorce’.
● Citizen’s Rights - EU Nationals in the UK and UK Nationals in the EU would keep
residency and social security rights.
● Northern Ireland ‘backstop’ - efforts to prevent a ‘hard border’ with the Republic of
Ireland.
● May’s deal was rejected 3 times by the House of Commons.
Theresa May’s demise as leader
● Unhappiness with May’s leadership of Brexit negotiations led to a confidence vote
being called in December 2018.
● May won this vote of Conservative MPs - 200 for and 117 against.
● However, following repeated failures to get her Brexit deal approved, she announced
her resignation on 24 May 2019.
Boris Johnson’s Rise
● A recognised ‘celebrity’ politician, Johnson had held office as Mayor of London 2008-
2016.
● He served as Foreign Secretary (2016-18) under Theresa May but resigned over her
approach to Brexit.
● As a prominent leader in the Leave campaign (2016) Johnson was able to argue he
could be trusted to deliver Brexit.
● He defeated ‘Remainer’, Jeremy Hunt to become Prime Minister on 24th July 2019.
Johnson’s approach to Brexit
● Renegotiated withdrawal agreement with EU.
● Deal was largely the same as May’s, but different approach to Northern Ireland.
British Politics Week 10 - May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak
Lecture 1
● There were 5 different Prime Ministers (PMs) from 2016.
● 3 different PMs during 2022 alone.
The Cameron Legacy
● 2010-2015 - coalition with the Lib Dems
● Conservatives in power with a small majority.
● Economically liberal policies e.g. austerity.
● Some socially liberal policies e.g. same sex marriage.
● Result of Brexit referendum - 52% leave and 48% remain.
Theresa May
● Party chairman in 2022, May indicated that the Conservatives needed to change as
they were seen as ‘the nasty party’.
● However, as Home Secretary (2010-2016) she had a reputation for a tough approach
to immigration e.g. ‘hostile environment’ policy.
● Became Prime Minister in July 2016 after Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the Tory
leadership contest.
● Pledged to tackle ‘burning injustices’ in relation to inequalities.
Early Brexit steps…
● May pledged to unite the Conservative Party and implement Brexit
● January 2017 - However, Miller court case establishes that parliament must decide
on if the UK should leave the EU.
● March 2017 - May activated article 50.
● April 2017 - May calls snap General Election.
● June 2017 - Conservatives lose their parliamentary majority.
2017 General Election
● May’s Conservative Party had a 20 point lead in the opinion polls weeks before the
election, but ‘dementia tax’ policy was unpopular.
● Labour united for the election despite earlier in-fighting over Jeremy Corbyn’s
leadership.
● After a humiliating result, May was compelled to look for support from the Democratic
Ulster Party (DUP) to pursue Brexit.
Theresa May’s Governing Style
● Series, methodical, task-oriented approach to policy, centralised decision-making.
, ● Limited communication skills - sometimes referred to as ‘the Maybot’.
● Arguably made use of the ‘populist’ tactics - claiming to represent the will of the
people against MPs seeking to thwart her Brexit deal.
● Resilient under pressure, but unable to persuade enough colleagues of her approach
to Brexit.
May’s Wider Policies
● Economy - kept commitment to austerity measures aimed at reducing budget deficit;
new industrial strategy.
● Education - continued commitment to create more free schools, increased spending.
● NHS - commitment to improve mental health services; increased spending.
● Foreign Policy - maintaining ‘special relationship’ with US; kept 0.7% commitment on
international aid.
May’s Brexit Deal Offer - 2018
● UK to leave European Single market and Customs union as well as EU.
● Financial settlement for the ‘divorce’.
● Citizen’s Rights - EU Nationals in the UK and UK Nationals in the EU would keep
residency and social security rights.
● Northern Ireland ‘backstop’ - efforts to prevent a ‘hard border’ with the Republic of
Ireland.
● May’s deal was rejected 3 times by the House of Commons.
Theresa May’s demise as leader
● Unhappiness with May’s leadership of Brexit negotiations led to a confidence vote
being called in December 2018.
● May won this vote of Conservative MPs - 200 for and 117 against.
● However, following repeated failures to get her Brexit deal approved, she announced
her resignation on 24 May 2019.
Boris Johnson’s Rise
● A recognised ‘celebrity’ politician, Johnson had held office as Mayor of London 2008-
2016.
● He served as Foreign Secretary (2016-18) under Theresa May but resigned over her
approach to Brexit.
● As a prominent leader in the Leave campaign (2016) Johnson was able to argue he
could be trusted to deliver Brexit.
● He defeated ‘Remainer’, Jeremy Hunt to become Prime Minister on 24th July 2019.
Johnson’s approach to Brexit
● Renegotiated withdrawal agreement with EU.
● Deal was largely the same as May’s, but different approach to Northern Ireland.
