Theresa May: 'I'm not a quitter'
The Prime Minister denies reports that she intends to step down in 2019, in a 'radical' U-turn from previous statements
Theresa May has said she would like to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, declaring she intends to remain in power "for the long term".
"I'm not a quitter," she said, denying a report in the Sunday Mirror that she had "pencilled in Friday, August 30, 2019 as the day she will quit as Prime Minister".
The "unanticipated announcement" was "a radical departure from previous statements that she would carry on only as long as the Tories wanted her to", says the Daily Telegraph.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Speaking during her first official visit to Japan, May stressed that her role was not limited to delivering Brexit, but also to cement Britain's place on the global stage over the coming years.
"There's a real job to be done in the United Kingdom," May said. "It's about getting the Brexit deal right, it's about building that deep and special partnership with the European Union but it's also about building global Britain, trading around the world."
May's statement "comes a month before she faces a crucial test of her authority when she addresses grassroots members of her party at the Conservatives' annual conference in Manchester," Politico says.
"The Prime Minister is keen to stamp her authority on her party before a series of tough Brexit battles in autumn's parliament, with the EU (withdrawal) bill returning to the House of Commons next week," The Guardian says.
But the Telegraph warns that "May's strategy of throwing down the gauntlet to her rivals carries the risk of backfiring and re-igniting plots to challenge her".
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said May "had his 'undivided backing' to lead the party into another general election campaign", insisting that the Prime Minister could "certainly" win an absolute majority, the BBC reports.
However, critics have questioned the value of May's declaration. It "comes just two years after her predecessor, David Cameron, insisted he would remain in post even if he lost the EU referendum, only to quit weeks later when his worst fears were realised," The Independent says.
Labour MP Jon Trickett said May was "deluding herself" if she thought she could cling on until the next election. "Neither the public nor Tory MPs believe her fantasy of staying on till 2022," he said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Damian Barr shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The writer and broadcaster picks works by Alice Walker, Elif Shafak and others
By The Week UK Published
-
The Great Mughals: a 'treasure trove' of an exhibition
The Week Recommends The V&A's new show is 'spell-binding'
By The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Who will replace Rishi Sunak as the next Tory leader?
In Depth Shortlist will be whittled down to two later today
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published