The much used 1960s quote
from former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, ‘A week is a long time in politics’,
has had more than its fair share of airing this last week or so.
How true that turns out to
be fifty years later, when despite the transformation of our political
landscape, nothing much has changed in the overall scheme of things.
In just a few weeks we have
seen a significant shift as a result of the Brexit Referendum result.
So, now we have our second
female Prime Minister, and if predictions are correct, which they rarely are,
we may well soon have female leaders of our other key political parties. If
this does indeed turn out to be the case it would give me cause for worry. I
can visualise that the headlines from our political pundits will constantly
want to focus on the latest ‘perceived’ female spat rather than the serious
business of the day.
Personally, I have never
been much of a feminist, having always believed that the person chosen for such
high office should be appointed on merit regardless of gender.
The premature departure of
Cameron (a wrong move to my mind, he should have seen it through) and the
selection of those wishing to take on the mantel as his successor took a swift
about-turn when Gove overplayed his hand and Andrea Ledsom demonstrated her
lack of political nous with ill-judged comments about the benefits of having
children. When the heat was on she clearly did not have the bottle to follow
through and tough it out.
That left us with Teresa May
as the only contender to become Cameron’s heir apparent, depriving party
members of a vote, and bouncing her into the plum job, causing one prominent
satirist to comment that the country is now run but an unelected woman with a
husband called Philip.
In recent interviews with
colleagues past and present it is apparent that Teresa May has coveted this job
for some time and has kept her cards close to her chest, choosing the moment to
play her hand.
In taking on office with
very little warning she has been swift and ruthless in her appointments and
sackings, clearing the decks for her own team. In breaking up the elite Tory
clique we can only hope that she does not now form one of her own, relying
instead on selecting those with sound judgement.
In one interview former MP
David Laws said that it was difficult to pigeon-hole Theresa May. This must be
a good thing. She is clearly her own woman and we may yet discover that in
leading our country, until the next election at least, she turns out to be far
more steely than the original Iron Lady.
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