Theresa May was an unlikely prime minister. She was shy, introverted, publicly awkward, mistrustful of colleagues and without much sense of ideological purpose. Most modern prime ministers are partly performers, fascinated by the political stage, their role on it and the wider context. May was indifferent to performance and not especially curious about what else was happening around her.
Her indifference, however, was not the same as lacking ego or ambition. One of the revelations in this extensive account of her premiership is the degree to which May ached to retain the thorny crown. She enjoyed what Anthony Seldon describes as the “trappings of power”, not least her regular sessions with the Queen. For May leadership was harrowing and yet she clung to the post resolutely. She was like the diner in the Woody Allen joke: “The food in this restaurant is terrible and the portions are so small.” May was tormented by her elevated role and she wanted more of it.
Content from our partners
