More than two years on from the initial vote to leave the European Union, and the UK looks no closer to securing a favourable Brexit deal.
After a string of cabinet resignations and a lack of discernible progress in securing a trade agreement, concerns continue to mount over whether the Prime Minister is indeed fit to oversee Brexit negotiations.
When May assumed the role of leader of the Conservatives back in 2016, few were envious of her challenging task of rescuing the so-called ‘poisoned chalice’ of Brexit.
But after a series of PR blunders throughout the course of her premiership, many within the party – and beyond – are increasingly dubious of May’s staying power into the next election.
Lacking a natural tact for speaking to the press, it seems Theresa May can’t seem to shake her image problem.
Despite holding the title of the longest-serving Home Secretary in the nation’s history, May is prove that being a good leader is more than simply ‘getting the job done’.
After a decidedly lacklustre 2016 election campaign which saw May branded as stiff and unrelatable, the bad press has only continued into her leadership.
Support for the PM has progressively dwindled, in particular amid public outrage after her delayed reaction to the tragedy of the Grenfell tower inferno that shocked the nation.
What’s more, the controversy surrounding the government’s response to the Windrush scandal has only alienated the public further, adding to the perception of May as lacking the leadership skills required to navigate the UK through the murky waters of Brexit.
Moreover, May’s embracement of President Trump during his recent trip to London, in spite of his less than complimentary comments in an highly-publicised interview with the Sun, has only compounded negative perceptions.
Ultimately, the question remains over whether the PM has the resoluteness required to represent the UK on the global diplomatic stage.
And dissent only continues to intensify at home, particularly within her own party, following the recent resignation of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis.
Nothing seems to be quelling doubts over whether Theresa May can effectively protect the UK’s interest overseas, when even her own party seems to be unravelling.
Most recently, her unfortunately awkward dancing during her trip to Africa went viral on twitter, only serving to overshadow her efforts in the region to secure the UK a trade deal.
Is she the dancing queen? 💃
Theresa May shows off her dancing skills to schoolchildren while trying to secure trade deals in Africa ahead of Brexit. pic.twitter.com/2Mfb1oXUwM
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) August 28, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
With less than a year until the government’s self-imposed March 2019 EU withdrawal deadline, it remains to be seen whether May will defy the critics and demonstrate the resolve needed to secure the UK the best deal.
