If this is Theresa May’s best campaigning face, some of us can’t wait for the next general election

Last Updated: February 16, 2017By

“Oh no! This is our candidate?” Theresa May (R) and Conservative Party candidate for the upcoming Copeland by-election, Trudy Harrison (L) sit with year six pupils during a visit to Captain Shaw’s Primary School, Bootle [Image: Getty].

It’s one of the oldest election-time clichés in the book – the photo opportunity of a politician holding a baby, or surrounded by a group of children.

The aim: To show the candidate as friendly, kind and trustworthy.

So Theresa May trotted off to Bootle (in Copeland, not Merseyside) for a photo-jolly with the Tory candidate there whose name escapes me (and everyone else, probably). Trudy Harrison! I just looked it up, so now we all know.

The location they chose was Captain Shaw’s CE Primary School, which was recently in danger of closure because it had fewer than 20 pupils.

The kids showed her the Lego robots they had made, and Mrs May showed them her worst side – by which I mean her face:

“Oh no! A poor person! Why am I sitting next to somebody who isn’t a millionaire?” [Image: Getty].

“One day, we will replace you with this.” Pupils at Captain Shaw’s School show Theresa May a Lego robot that is probably more intelligent than her [Image: Getty].

While Theresa May managed to successfully steer clear of awkward questions surrounding the nuclear industry and healthcare in a flying visit to Copeland on Wednesday, a photo opportunity didn’t quite go to plan.

As part of the Conservatives’ charm offensive in the region ahead of the crucial by-election next week, aides to the Prime Minister found space in Ms May’s diary for leisure time with year six pupils at Captain Shaw’s Primary School in Bootle.

“I have been blown away by the children,” Ms May said after the pupils gave a demonstration of their Lego robot alongside the party’s candidate for the by-election, Trudy Harrison.

Ms May was, however, accused of “ducking” questions on the closure of a maternity ward in Copeland as she refused to say whether she would intervene to stop plans to downgrade services in the area.

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8 Comments

  1. NMac February 16, 2017 at 2:10 pm - Reply

    I suspect she has about as much empathy with children as a slab of concrete. A new idea for a Terry Deary book, “The Horrible Hag of Downing Street.”

  2. Barry Davies February 16, 2017 at 3:04 pm - Reply

    Do we have a transcript of the discussions taking place at the time these pictures were taken ? Every picture may be worth a thousands words, but only when taken in context.

    • Joan Edington February 16, 2017 at 7:19 pm - Reply

      I don’t think it matters much. In each shot she looks like she’s been asked to eat warthogs entrails. On the plus side, at least the kids are all awake, unlike for her predecessor.

  3. Kenneth Billis February 16, 2017 at 4:57 pm - Reply

    The Interview she did was classic May. First she was asked about the governments intentions to downgrade hospital services. That caused her to insist this was just Labour scaremongering. Pressed on this point she then went on to state that Trudy Harrison is opposed to the downgrading of services. This really begged the question as to how Trudy Harrison can be opposed to something which May wants us to believe is just Labour s**t stirring. That was the end of the interview really. She launched into an election speech on behalf of Trudy and any other questions were totally ignored..

    It really was just what we’ve come to expect from her and she is the Prime Minister!

  4. j green February 16, 2017 at 5:06 pm - Reply

    I can’t understand why Labour are keeping Jeremy Corbyn away from us up in this area. How is he supposed to connect with the people if Labour won’t let him. Mother and babies will be at huge risk traveling in ambulance to Carlisle when they are in labour. Have people got short memories if not for the libdumbs propping the Tories up the NHS wouldn’t be in this position.

  5. PJB February 16, 2017 at 11:41 pm - Reply

    You ugly.

  6. Sven Wraight February 17, 2017 at 4:06 pm - Reply

    I already dislike May, so the pictures of her sneering change little. Those who might be persuaded could use context.

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