Theresa May not see you now
One of the most revealing moments in Michael Heseltine’s interview on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning came when he mentioned that he’d never met Theresa May. He’s been working for the government for 6 years, he said, often 4 days a week. Successive Business Secretaries have praised him to the heights. He’s a fan of industrial strategies, which the PM has been trying to put together. He’s passionate about devolving government and nursing the over-looked parts of the realm beyond London. Again, that’s an overlap of interest with the PM’s declared mission. But the two haven’t spoken.
It speaks of the tightness of the circle around Theresa May. The praetorian guard, Joint Chiefs of Staff Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill insist that they must have approved documents before they go to Mrs May. And they don’t want individuals waltzing in with their own ideas either and presumably that’s how Theresa May likes it.
She trusts a small number of people who go back years with her and others have their work cut out overcoming innate suspicion.
I’m even told that, almost 7 months into her premiership, there are quite a few people working in Number 10 who haven’t yet met Theresa May.
There’s a good piece here in the FT today on her relationship with the Chancellor.
One insight into her tight and trusted circle of friends is the 60th birthday party that was thrown for Theresa May at the French Horn in Sonning in her constituency last Autumn. There were no MPs present, there were some longstanding constituency association allies, some friends from the Mays’ university days, one peer with local connections plus the praetorian guard, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill.
Theresa May’s allies would say this contrasts with David Cameron’s socialising with country toffs and super-rich friends. And, they argue, David Cameron appointed mates from elite schools while she appoints people who have impressed her in her (Home Office) past.
One senior Cameron ally says Mrs May has surrounded herself with “uninspiring” ministers who don’t challenge her and don’t “make the weather” in their departments.
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