I’m not robotic: Theresa May fights back

Team Udayavani, Sep 9, 2017, 9:35 AM IST

London :  British Prime Minister Theresa May today fought back claims that she is robotic in her responses, a tag she was given by the media during the general election campaign earlier this year for repeating stock phrases.

The ardent cricket fan was at the England versus West Indies Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London today when she was brought on as guest on the BBC’s Test Match Special radio show. “I get frustrated… people used the word robotic about me during that campaign. I don’t think I’m in the least robotic,” said May, on being asked about the election campaign that ended with her Conservative party losing its overall majority in the House of Commons.

“As the leader of the party of course you have to take it to a degree personally and you have to accept that responsibility,” 60-year-old May said in reference to the June election outcome. The campaign – which had been masterminded by Australian strategist Sir Lynton Crosby – has been widely criticised for failing to connect with the UK electorate, with the PM even being labelled “Maybot” for a robotic approach.

“In any election campaign a plan is made about what that campaign is going to be like… What I really enjoy is getting out there talking to people, hearing from them, understanding what the issues are for them,” she said. “That’s what drove me when I first became prime minister.”  Guests traditionally bring cakes to BBC’s Test Match Special, and after an initial chat about Hurricane Irma which May described as “absolutely devastating” May said she had baked chocolate brownies herself at Downing Street.

She admitted finding it “much harder” to follow cricket as PM, “I’m not able to see much these days, I’m afraid, and there’s not a lot of time to keep up with it.