Theresa May ‘hopeless and weak’, says top Tory donor
2 min read
The Prime Minister is “no Thatcher” as she is “very indecisive” and screwed up an election the Conservative party “should have walked”, according to a top Tory donor.
In a damning indictment of her leadership, Lord Peckham of Harris said he would rather have a strong Labour government rather than a weak Conservative one, despite being “a Conservative through and through”.
He accused the Government of mishandling Brexit and souring relations with the business community.
“I tell you one thing, Theresa May is no Thatcher,” the carpet magnate, 74, said. “Thatcher used to make decisions. Not everyone liked her but you knew where you stood.”
He backed Ruth Davidson for future leader and was critical of Boris Johnson, who he said lacked the energy needed to be Prime Minister.
Lord Harris’s comments show just how uncertain Mrs May’s future as leader is. The peer was close to David Cameron in 2005 when he ran for the leadership.
A strong Brexit backer, he believes her government is at risk of mishandling Britain’s departure from the EU. “I think she was shell-shocked [by the election] but she’s got to start making decisions, or someone has.”
Lord Harris, who has received widespread praise for the Harris Foundation’s 44 academy schools, was also critical of reforms to education under the Conservatives.
Budgets had been cut and pupils’ access to less academic subjects had suffered as a result.
“We’ve had to give up in some schools music or cooking,” he said.
The cuts, combined with an increasing focus on core subjects in league tables and new tougher GCSEs in English and maths, have led many schools to condense their timetables.
Arts, drama, music, school trips and pastoral support have all suffered.
Lord Harris, who sponsors 44 primaries and secondaries that are among the most highly regarded in the country, said: “It’s a real shame but they’re cutting back too hard and I think it’s a false economy.”
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