UK Prime Theresa May dismantled statements that her husband Philip, to whom she’s been married for nearly 40 years, plays a role in her "decision-making process." The Tory’s deputy chair, James Cleverly, pressed her with this enquiry in a recent interview for the Parliament’s magazine “The House,” but got “ a very firm reply, not angry, but unambiguous and clear,” as he described it.
“No, he’s got his own job, I’ve got my job. We talk about local campaigning, what ward to canvass but he’s not part of any wider process,” she told the fellow politician, also slamming him for posing the question in the first place.
May confronted him: “Whether if I was a male Prime Minister, you would have asked the same question about their wife?”
“I don’t just challenge you, because you reference what is out there. I am I just raising the question as to whether actually there are those out there who think that because it’s a female prime minister, therefore there must be a man somewhere,” she told Cleverly, contemplating on the difficulties women in politics face.
“Women in politics receive a particular type of nasty and often violent misogyny online, we discuss this effect this has on recruiting women and whether it is a distraction to her personally,” she stated.
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Her fierce reaction got a mixed response on Twitter. Some suggested it had nothing to do with gender.
EVERY man consults his wife for advice. It saves you having to go to them afterward to explain to them why you had got it wrong.
— MartinS01 (@MartinScholes01) 27 сентября 2018 г.
Tony Blair frequently consulted his wife, as did Harold Wilson. Gordon Brown probably didn't consult anyone, ever. Edward Heath didn't have a wife to consult, and John Major cheated on his.
— Robin Smith 🏴🇸🇪 #MayMustGoNow (@BW400CN) 27 сентября 2018 г.
Male politicians get asked similar questions regarding their wives/partners. Where is the problem?
— RiJa (@Everton1979) 27 сентября 2018 г.
Others suspected some conspiracy behind the couple’s relationship and didn’t seem to believe her independence at all.
Well, she asks the advice of Capital Group, which Philip May runs…
— Shane Forster (@RayVonPeeps) 27 сентября 2018 г.
Well, some bugger needs to tell her what's what as she hasn't a clue herself!
— Patrick Beames 🏴 (@pajb49) 27 сентября 2018 г.
Bet she does
— Charles(cb) Baker (@Charles23782609) 27 сентября 2018 г.
There were those who named some outsourced advisers to May beside her husband.
That advice has been rubbish so far? pic.twitter.com/2SUWnYSJ5b
— john toher (@john_toher) 27 сентября 2018 г.
Philip May, who was predicted to have a bright political future during his days at Oxford University, but eventually pursued a career in finance, is reportedly the UK’s variant of Ivanka Trump for the role he allegedly plays in government.
