Brexit Regrets and Salisbury Spies | Theresa May

Does Theresa May regret visiting Donald Trump? Her mission to end modern slavery and to see a net-zero Britain. Why did she prefer Gordon Brown to Tony Blair as a Prime Minister? Does the former PM have any regrets over Brexit? How did things unfold behind the scenes after the Salisbury poisoning of a former Russian spy?

In the second of two episodes, Rory and Alastair are joined once again by former Conservative Prime Minister, Theresa May.

00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Becoming PM in the Brexit referendum fallout
13:10 - The rise of David Cameron
14:06 - Was David Cameron's government serious?
15:30 - Retaining faith in the political system
17:24 - Labour vs Conservatives
19:00 - Press releases masquerading as policy
24:00 - Balancing seriousness with popular recognition
28:49 - International diplomacy
32:22 - Trump and misogyny
34:35 - Salisbury murders
37:42 - Observing and interacting with world leaders
39:15 - Johnson, Blair or Truss
40:15 - Why Theresa May still believes in the system
43:40 - Modern slavery, Net-zero

[sjengineeringservices]

I have been a Labour voter all my life
But what an honest and open interview
Theresa May is obviously not who I would vote for but compared to recent PMs
What a class act

[andrewlloydcraven]

Refreshing for a former P.M to agree to podcast and stand up to scrutiny. Very good listening and highly commendable. Im a labour supporter and appreciated this interview profoundly.

[jimbobbean]

This is so refreshing! Different political views coming together without arguing and underlying bitterness. 👏

[webMonkey_]

Rory is the glue in these interviews. I am not a Tory boy but I have to be able to say the man has reached across the aisle more than most.

[williamj]

This really is the most fantastic opportunity. Thank you for making a podcast of such high quality.

[johnschlesinger]

What a huge difference between Theresa May as PM and the lady we see here: the former - brittle, defensive, unrelaxed. Here: totally "on the ball", relaxed, easy going, factual. What a shame she was unable to be her true self when she was in a position of power.

[glantont]

An incredible conversation between three people I'd never have expected to find common ground or understanding with. Oh for a world where politicians could speak so openly before we elect them or while they're on office

[ollietaro]

Thanks Rory for clarifying certain british terms for us international listeners!! 🙏 ❤️

[annabelmackirdy]

Love the interviews. It is great to hear polite and very well argued debate

[diablmaster]

As much as I disagree with her politics, she is the only conservative PM in these past 14 years with with some integrity. People joked about her teary-eyed resignation speech, but it showed that she treated the office with the respect it deserves. If only that were the prevailing attitude in her party.

[VirtualFunction]

As a British person who's become rather disgusted with our system... I have to say it's heartening to see people of such wildly different affiliations having such a mutually respectful conversation. I hesitate to say that our American counterparts could quite manage this.

[thewyj]

In a recent PMQs, Theresa May stood up to ask a question and the House fell absolutely silent while she spoke. As soon as she was finished and Sunak stood up to answer, the heckling and talking started again. It might be a coincidence, but I got the sense that May is deeply respected.

[stephenconway]

We need more in depth interviews like this. Thank you.

[bobalopadus]

Very tactful of Rory to phrase his final question so broadly. Very much sounds like a student asking a teacher why they are able to move on when the student themselves can't. You can see the admiration he has throughout

[waywed]

This is one of the very best vlogs/podcasts around. It uniquely presents both centre-left and centre-right viewpoints and nuance via experienced and knowledgeable hosts. Long may we have it!

[PrinsTan]

I may not agree at all with many of her policies, or beliefs, but it seems to me that Prime Minister May is genuine in her devotion to service for the betterment to the country, and her constituency.

[spooony]

It's frustrating that we only have these frank and in depth conversations after the political careers are basically over.

[juancasanova]

As a fundamentally socialist person and somebody who really doesn't align with Tories at all, I never thought I'd find Theresa May so likeable as after watching this. The moment she said:

"... it can be dangerous because in a sense it helps to fuel the populism and polarization of politics that we see today, and it tends to encourage the thinking that there are easy answers to what are often very complex problems..."

which is almost a mantra for me, that a lot of problems in human life come from looking for easy answers to difficult problems... I didn't think I'd hear a recent UK primer minister say that, and there she said it.

I did always feel she was handed an impossible job and presented as a sacrifice for the tories; and I still would never vote Tory and disagree in lots of things with her. But this whole conversation made me feel that indeed the problem STRONGLY comes from polarization, the way the media works today and the importance of popularity. And what we need is more discussions like this.

It's just sad that I don't think this is going to happen.

[some______guy]

I hate politics. I'm not british. I love this podcast. It's something so rare as a smart political show.

[david]

She's now a back bencher, nothing to lose and Johnson isn't even a sitting MP anymore. Yet she still displays loyalty to him and won't criticise him.