The lady is for turning: Theresa May’s U-turns

The Prime

The Prime Minister has a history of going
back on policies

One-Minute Read

However, this is not the first time the Prime Minister has been
accused of backtracking on an unpopular policy.

“From opposing Brexit to hanging her Chancellor out to dry on
proposed changes to National Insurance – May has built a reputation
for acting in haste and repenting on national TV,” writes the
Daily Mirror.

Brexit
During the EU referendum campaign, May “was not a vocal Remainer
but she was a firm one,” says the Financial Times. Since becoming PM, however,
she has pursued a harder course on Brexit than even many Leave
voters envisioned, vowing to be a “bloody difficult woman”, take
the UK out of the single market and end freedom of movement.

National Insurance
In his first full Budget in March, Philip Hammond announced a rise
in national insurance rates for the self-employed. The tax hike was
“panned as a White Van Tax by the press”, says The Independent, and jettisoned a week
later.

Workers on boards
Many commentators thought May’s promise to force companies to
include workers on their boards was an odd fit for a Conservative
agenda – and they were right. After lobbying by businesses, it was
downgraded to an optional measure.

Early general election
“It isn’t going to happen,” was Downing Street’s unambiguous
response to early election rumours in March. Weeks later, the PM
convened a surprise press conference to announce an early
election.

Foreign worker lists
Home Secretary Amber Rudd suggested that employers might be forced
to disclose the number of foreign workers on their payroll,
provoking comparisons with North Korea and Nazi Germany. The
spectacle of “commentators from across the political spectrum
lining up to slate the policy” proved too much, LBC reports. Less than a week later, the
government said it had no plans to enact such a policy.