Theresa May under pressure to quit (again)

New year, new you? Not if you are Theresa May.

By the end of a disastrous 2017, the prime minister appeared to have regained some kind of power. She had secured the first part of a deal with the European Union and established a fragile peace in her cabinet. Three weeks into 2018, however, her job is back on the line.

There are a few reasons for this. The first is May’s botched cabinet reshuffle three weeks ago, in which ministers rejected her attempts to move them. Once again, May looked weak.

The second is the upcoming local elections: Tories are fearing another poor result.

Third – and most importantly – the second phase of the Brexit talks is coming up. It will focus on the crucial issue of the UK’s future trade relationship with the EU. As the talks approach, the fissure between Europhiles and Eurosceptics is reopening, and both sides are accusing May of lacking vision – on Brexit and domestic affairs.

There are those, like Philip Hammond, who favour a “soft” Brexit. Last week at Davos, the chancellor contradicted the government’s position by calling for a “very modest” Brexit.

Then there are the “hard” Leavers like Jacob Rees-Mogg, the influential backbencher (and favourite to succeed May). They warn that a soft Brexit will turn the UK into a “vassal state”.

Caught in between, May seems paralysed. Also at Davos, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly made German reporters laugh by recounting how she had asked May what the UK wants from the EU. All May could reply was: “Make me an offer.”

The prime minister’s party is now in open revolt – Conservative grandee Michael Heseltine spoke for many when he said that “We have effectively no government.” So are the party’s donors: at a meeting last week, many apparently called for May’s resignation. Even her former adviser Nick Timothy accused the government of “strategic confusion”.

Since last year’s awful general election result, May has appeared on the verge of quitting several times. Yet she has survived. Is her number finally up?

Beware the Ides of May

Yes, say some. May is a dull leader and a clueless politician. She has no plan for Brexit, and is unable to stop her unruly colleagues from presenting their own conflicting ideas. At the most sensitive moment in modern British history, this is not what we need. She must leave now – or be forced out by her party.

Hang on, reply others. Cabinet members, and the Tory grassroots, have defended May so far. They understand that Brexit is going badly because the government is weak and the EU is strong. A new prime minister will not change that, and there are no strong candidates anyway. Let May stay, for a while at least.