The Conservative Party conference in Manchester was the first since Mrs. May gambled by calling a general election in June, a political blunder that cost her party its majority. The party conference, and this speech in particular, was an opportunity to reassert her authority over a cabinet squabbling over the details of Brexit. She also apologized to Conservative Party members for having led an election campaign that was “too scripted, too presidential,” and spoke only briefly about the divisive issue of Brexit. Mrs. May’s colleagues put their best gloss on events, arguing that her performance had illustrated her determination, and that voters would understand and sympathize with her predicament. People were “starting to feel sorry for Theresa May,” Humza Yousaf, a minister in the Scottish government and a member of the Scottish National Party, wrote on Twitter.

Source: New York Times October 04, 2017 12:34 UTC