Hats off...

IMO there simply isn’t anybody else who could do any better. I admire her tenacity amidst the shambles that is Brexit. And yes, I admire her ability to laugh at her self - unlike many... Her physical energy alone, with her health problems, is amazing. Like everyone her age she has made mistakes which I’m sure she regrets - as we all do - at least we haven’t made ours with the eyes of the world on us!

Well said Jane

I'm with Jane10 also, I can't imagine what it must be like to wake up each morning and wonder who will be the next backstabber.
I agree TM is not the most dynamic leader but sometimes slow and steady wins the race.

I totally agree with you Jane.

I’m with you Jane I suspect the only time TM can relax is when she is with her DH.

I often wonder how things would have gone if Corbyn had been at the helm, a thought is too awful to consider IMO.

I don’t usually come on political threads so Goodbye.

I’m sure your point was to praise some admirable personal quality in May’s stoicism by hanging on despite all the criticism and backstabbing, but it’s hard to separate the person from their achievements, or in the case of May, her non- achievements. At some point, merely hanging on becomes counter productive and becomes something to criticise rather than admire.

I don't usually venture into political-type threads but the point I would like to put forward is how rude and insulting the EU have been to the Prime Minister. She was invited to address them on Wednesday then asked to leave so they could have their dinner without her - how insulting was that?

We are still members of the EU until next March yet they treat her with disdain and barely concealed contempt. Then they adjourned to the pub no doubt full of themselves and how clever they were to keep the UK dancing to their tune.

It's not just Mrs May they are treating like this but in effect all of us as she is there as our Prime Minister.

Sigh. Missed the point again.

So we agree that she's the best of a bad bunch? How very reassuring!
The fact that she keeps on going like a Duracell bunny is hardly a ringing endorsement of her political acumen.

And let who exactly take over? Boris? Gove? Corbyn? Any other bozos to suggest? Each of them make her look better and better.

Did I say I could do much better? No- I said I couldn’t do what she is doing, I hope I’d quit before I was pushed!

Her stamina must be good though

This is Chat

Jalimall08.
I rather thought that the cabinet was the political team, otherwise, what is the point of them? The legalities may be the natural arena for civil servants, but they should not be sent to negotiate in lieu of elected politicians, merely serve to provide information when required.
The woman may have the stamina to bounce around like a ping pong ball in a tumble dryer, but she achieves nothing, except perhaps division, confusion and delay.
She is doing more harm to the UK than good.

Oh well crystaltipps as you could do so much better why not volunteer to take over? Poisoned chalice anyone?

Jane10, yes I did realise that and I'm sorry I got drawn into the political side which developed on here.

Yes, I am in awe of her stamina and that of many women in their 50s and 60s (and older), then realise how much older I am than some of these women!

No I couldn’t do what she is doing as she is making such a huge mess of her day job. I would like to think I would know to quit before I was pushed. I am sure she is sincere, but blinkered. Doesn’t mean we have to admire her.

I never said we should be in awe of her political achievements. Her resilience and stamina in the face of a ghastly situation all round is quite remarkable. I deliberately did not post on the political threads as I wanted only to comment on her as a woman of the same age as me and others on here. I couldn't do what she does and there are few, if any, that could.

I'm with suzie and stree.
Stamina! stress! yes all of that but the bottom line is that her earlier c....-ups are now culminating in the complete fiasco and failure we're looking at today!!

She must realise that she is pleasing no one. She has ignored the advice of many of the top civil servants who warned her that many of her delusional plans were unworkable. The latest bodge is just playing for time, costing billions and alienating all sides. Not exactly effective leadership. Yes, she’s hung on in an unwinnable situation and claiming victory when all she’s done is play for time, but that’s about it. Doesn’t mean we should be in awe of her political achievements. Personally, we can admire her stoicism, but that’s not saying much.

ignores her cabinet and confides in and acts upon advice from civil servants instead,

Of course!

Civil servants will know far more about the legalities, the delicate way to negotiate through the maze than any MP.
I'm quite shocked that you did you not know that!

civilservice.blog.gov.uk/2017/07/11/how-the-civil-service-is-preparing-for-brexit/

stree can't you see that she's a figurehead not a single person making decisions all by herself!! By all means be cross at the politicians in general but that poor woman us trying her hardest to cobble together a contentious treaty in the face of a divided party, divided country and multitude of agendas both open and hidden. As I said in my OP - hats off to the woman.

suzied has it to a T

As a PM she waffles and prevaricates, puts off any crucial divisions because she is too timid to commit herself, her idea of "winning" a negotiation is to cave in and give away any hope of a winning hand, ignores her cabinet and confides in and acts upon advice from civil servants instead, I can see no redeeming features.
On the level of Major, Kinnock, Milliband etc for being hopeless, but being hopeless at internal and domestic issues is one thing, failing us at this crucial time on an international level is despicable.
No wonder the 48 letters are written.

Th best thing you can say about May is she works hard and has kept the ultra Torykippers at bay. However, she is a useless PM, being better than Cameron is rather a low bar.. The latest fudge shows again how our country is simply collateral damage in a savage Tory struggle over Europe. She hasn't managed to please anyone. She screwed up the election with her own incompetence, ensuring there was no parliamentary majority for any kind of Brexit. She triggered Article 50 with no idea how to achieve a workable deal, an act of breathtaking folly. She cobbled together Chequers with the clock running out, then obstinately ignored all the voices in Westminster, Whitehall and across Europe warning it was not viable. She blames Brussels after slamming inevitably into the buffers.

as long as she stays off the politics/Brexit threads

I know Mrs May doesn't have any children, but I do hope she gets time to pop into gransnet for a catch up and finds out that we appreciate her hard work !