Iron Lady - 2. What mark Theresa May left in the history of British politics

Biography of Theresa May

Theresa May is a famous British politician. From 2010 to 2012, she headed the Women's (Equality) portfolio in David Cameron's government, and subsequently served as Home Secretary (2010-2016). In the summer of 2020, she headed the UK government, replacing Cameron as Prime Minister. During her tenure as Prime Minister, the British population voted to leave the European Union, which led to widespread public debate. In May 2020, the politician announced that she was resigning.

British Prime Minister Theresa May

According to Mikhail Gorbachev, Theresa May can become as popular a politician as Margaret Thatcher. Now she has firmly secured the status of a “lead lady” - a flexible but tough politician.

In 2020, Forbes ranked Theresa May as the 14th most powerful person in the world.

Theresa May now

In April 2020, Theresa May announced that early parliamentary elections would be held in the UK in June of that year. The Prime Minister justified this decision by the fact that the UK’s upcoming exit from the European Union is a complex procedure that will require the country to have a strong and coherent government that has a common opinion on Brexit.

Theresa May

In a special speech on this occasion, the British Prime Minister reminded residents that the country faces a struggle not just for names and nominal agreements, but for control over its own borders, currency, laws and economic choices.

As a result of the re-election, Theresa May was re-elected to parliament, in addition, the Conservative Party was in the lead in the fight for an absolute majority of seats in parliament, but in the end no party received an impressive advantage, and the Conservatives gained only just over 50%.

Theresa May and Donald Trump

Because of this, a situation has developed that is called a “hung” parliament. Theresa May had to ask permission to form a new cabinet, which turned out to be a difficult process for creating a coalition of parties. Because of this, rumors appeared in 2020 about the imminent resignation of the Prime Minister, but this information was not confirmed.

After confirming its exit from the European Union, the UK began to improve relations both with former fellow members of the Union and with external countries. The prime minister became the first foreign leader to pay an official visit to the United States since Donald Trump took office as president.

Angela Merkel and Theresa May

In February 2020, Theresa May visited China and met with Xi Jinping. The Prime Minister told the press that a “golden era” had begun in relations between China and Great Britain.

Also in February 2020, May met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The main topic of the negotiations was the withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union, which was of interest to Europeans and the British. But in addition, the leaders also discussed security issues, as well as trade deals.

The early years of Theresa May. Education and work

Teresa was born in 1956 in Eastbourne, UK. Her father was a country vicar who died in a car accident just before Teresa graduated from university. Soon after his death, May also lost her mother, who could not survive the loss of her husband. After some time, the girl learned that she would never be able to have children.

Theresa May in childhood

A series of tragedies strengthened Teresa’s character, making him persistent and strong-willed. She was used to relying on herself in everything, to be guided by common sense, without violating the moral standards laid down in her strict patriarchal Protestant family.

Theresa May in her youth

Theresa May received her primary education in a state school, then in a private school. Teresa successfully graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Geography. Then the girl worked at the Bank of England and the clearing company APACS.

School and student years

Teresa Mary Bracer was born on October 1, 1956 in East Sussex, in the south of England, in the city of Eastbourne, located on the English Channel. It was here that the future head of the British government spent his childhood years.

Her parents professed Protestantism, and there was a strict patriarchy in the family. The father served as vicar.

The girl studied at different times in public and private schools.

Theresa May (center)

She received her higher education at Oxford University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in geography.

It was during her student years that Teresa received her first, but rather harsh, blow from fate - her father died in a car accident.

A year later, my mother also passed away, unable to survive the death of her husband. However, the string of personal tragedies did not end. Around this time, May learned that she would never be able to have children.

Teresa (in red) with friends

But not only sad events marked the years of study at the university. So, at one of the student discos of the Conservative Association, Teresa met her future husband, Philip John May, who was studying to be a historian.

The young people began to communicate based on common interests - in particular, both were passionate about cricket.

The wedding took place on September 6, 1980.

Growing up in a family of theologians has made itself felt - Theresa May still attends Sunday mass and is an obedient parishioner. But this does not stop her from fighting for gender equality and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The beginning of Theresa May's political career

From 1984 to 1992, May was a local government MP, then she stood for Parliament from the constituency of North West Durham, and took part in the 1994 snap election from the constituency of Barking. But - alas - all these attempts failed. Theresa May's first success in politics came in 1997 - she entered the British House of Commons.

Theresa May at the dawn of her political career (1992)

Until 2002, May built a career in the Tory government, remaining in the shadows. “The eminence grise of conservatives” - this is the opinion that people have about her.

In 2002, Teresa was elected to the position of Chairman of the Conservative Party. She became the first woman to oversee technical issues and provision for the Tories.

Theresa May was Cameron's loyal ally

From 2003 to 2005 she served as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Food and the Environment, and since 2005 as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture and as Acting Leader of the House of Commons. In 2009, another appointment followed - the Minister of Labor and Social Security.

Education and start of a political career

Having barely graduated from Oxford University and becoming a bachelor in geography, the girl lost both parents in a short time. In 1956, her father, a rural vicar, died in a car accident. A year after the death of her husband, her mother also passed away. The life tragedies that befell the young girl strengthened her character and taught her to rely only on herself.

From 1984 to 1992, Teresa’s political biography began. During this period, she was a deputy of local governments and unsuccessfully ran for Parliament several times.

In 1997 she joined the House of Commons. Until 2002, she held a number of posts in the so-called shadow government.

Also in 2002, she took up the post of chairman of the Conservative Party. May became the first woman to hold this important position.

Theresa May's political beliefs

As a member of the House of Commons, Theresa May voted: - for the invasion of British troops in Iraq;
- against the integration of Britain with the EU; — against smoking bans in public places; — against the ratification of laws to combat climate problems; — against granting gay couples the right to adopt children, but in favor of legalizing their marriages; — has always spoken out harshly against the flow of emigrants. After the Conservative victory in the 2010 parliamentary elections, Teresa headed the Home Office, retaining her position as Minister for Women's Equality. True, the woman politician initially counted on the post of Minister of Labor, since she oversaw such matters in the shadow government. However, this briefcase went to Iain Duncan Smith.

According to British publications, while serving as head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, May successfully dealt with the elimination of unrest in the streets.

Theresa May as Home Secretary

Coming out of the shadows

After the victory of the Conservatives in the parliamentary elections in 2010, Teresa received a portfolio in the government of David Cameron - she headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She remained in this chair until 2020. In parallel, from 2010 to 2012, she successfully headed the Ministry of Women and Equality.

As a politician, despite her Protestant upbringing, she advocated allowing same-sex marriage. At the same time, she was against the adoption of children into such families.

In the House of Commons, she supported the participation of British troops in the military campaign in Iraq. May was opposed to further and deeper integration of Great Britain into the structures of the European Union. She also spoke out very categorically against the influx of emigrants into the country.

After Brexit and Cameron's announcement of resignation, she showed her claims in the elections for the post of head of the Conservative Party. This meant that if she won, she would take the post of prime minister. With her rival withdrawing from the final election for the position, May became party leader in 2020. After Cameron's resignation was accepted by the Queen, Theresa May was able to begin forming a new government.

Theresa May is Prime Minister. Brexit

In 2020, a nationwide referendum was held in Great Britain, the results of which determined whether the country would remain part of the European Union.
At that time, Theresa supported the current Prime Minister Cameron, and opposed the so-called “Brexit”. Later her opinion changed. Eurosceptics won the referendum, and David Cameron submitted his resignation, after which Theresa May nominated herself for the post of head of the Conservatives, and, consequently, for the post of Prime Minister of Britain.

Theresa May and Elizabeth II

On July 5, 2020, the first round of elections for the leader of the Conservative Party took place, in which the woman was among the favorites, receiving 165 votes. On July 7 of the same year, the final race took place, in which May received 199 votes. Another woman, Andrea Leadsom, who heads the post of Deputy Minister for Energy, ran for the post, but received only 84 votes.

Thus, May became the clear contender for the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain. On July 11, 2020, her opponent withdrew her candidacy. Theresa May was declared leader of the Conservatives. On July 13, David Cameron handed her the powers of Prime Minister of Great Britain. In her first speech in office, Theresa May said: “Brexit means Brexit,” thereby agreeing with the will of the people expressed in the referendum.

Theresa May's first speech as British Prime Minister

Theresa May: career

began her career at the Bank of England, then worked at a clearing company;
1984-1992 — deputy of local government bodies;
1997 - entered the British House of Commons;
2001-2002 - “shadow” minister of transport;
2002-2003 - Chairman of the Conservative Party;
2004-2005 - “shadow” minister for family affairs;
2005 - “shadow” minister of culture, media and sport;
2005-2009 - “shadow” leader of the House of Commons;
2009-2010 - “shadow” minister for work and pensions;
2010 - Minister of Internal Affairs;
2010-2012 - at the same time - the post of Minister of Women's Affairs;
2016 - Leader of the Conservative Party;
On July 13, 2020, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain appointed Theresa May as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom;
On July 24, 2020, she resigned as Prime Minister.

Reference. The shadow cabinet is a “government in waiting”: under certain conditions, the powers of the real government are transferred to it. The second “shadow” government is legislated only in England.

Our heroine gained the status of a “lead lady” - a flexible but tough politician.