Table of Biography
Theresa May is a successful Britain’s Prime Minister from July 2016 to July 2019. Theresa May was the first female to hold the role since Margaret Thatcher.
Early Life and Childhood
Theresa May, full name is Theresa Mary May was born on October 1, 1956, in Eastbourne, Sussex, England. As for now, her age is 67 years old. May is the only child of her parents Zaidee Mary and Hubert Brasier. Her father was a Church of England clergyman and her grandfather was a regimental sergeant major. Likewise, her nationality is British and her religion is Christianity. She loves to visit her favorite Maliks Tandoori Restaurant.
Caption: Theresa May’s then vs. now picture (Source: YouTube)
Education
Talking about her educational history, Theresa May was educated at Oxfordshire primary and grammar schools in the State sector. After completing her high school she graduated from the University of Oxford in 1977. After collecting her degree she spent the next 20 years working in the financial sector. She was elected as Conservative MP (Member of Parliament) of Maidenhead in 1997, describing herself as a “One-Nation Conservative.”
Professional Life
Political Career
Theresa May was appointed as the Conservative Party’s first female chairman in 2002. She even was famously quoted as saying that it should no longer be called the “Nasty Party.”Likewise, she served in several Shadow Cabinets before becoming Home Secretary in 2010. She had also become the Minister for Women and Equalities, a post she vacated in 2012.
After Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation, May announced his candidacy for the Conservative Party and quickly emerged as its Leader, receiving 50% of the votes alone in Parliament amid the other candidates.
‘Brexit’ and PM Candidacy
Surprisingly half of the citizens of the UK voted to exit the European Union in June 2016 — an event which is referred to as the “Brexit” (Britain Exit) referendum. There, she originally voted to remain in the E.U., although she was known to be a “Euroskeptic.” However, she announced her candidacy for the Conservative Party after Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation. As well as quickly emerged as its frontrunner, receiving 50 percent of the Parliamentary votes alone amid the other candidates.
Similarly, she along with fellow Conservative leader Andrea Leadsom would both be in contention to become the country’s next PM on July 7, 2016. Unfortunately, within days, Leadsom, who voted for Britain to leave the E.U., pulled out of the running due to distasteful remarks she made about why she would make a better PM. Without any other contesting her candidacy, she was set to be sworn in as the first post-Brexit female Prime Minister.
Saying at the Parliament
Additionally, Theresa May had even made a televised announcement surrounded by Members of Parliament and her husband Philip, about seeing Brexit through on July 11, 2016, saying,
“During this campaign, my case has been based on three things. First, the need for strong, proven leadership to steer us through what will be difficult and uncertain economic and political times. The need, of course, to negotiate the best deal for Britain in leaving the E.U. and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world. Brexit means Brexit. And we are going to make a success of it.”
“Second, we need to unite our country. And third, we need a strong, new positive vision for the future of our country. A vision of a country that works, not for the privileged few, but that works for every one of us. Because we’re going to give people more control over their lives. And that’s how, together, we will build a better Britain.”
Reign as Prime Minister
May was sworn in as Britain’s second female Prime Minister on July 13, 2016. As well as the Queen’s 13th Prime Minister following ceremonial overtures.
On May 29, 2017, Prime Minister May officially told Parliament that she had invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, legislation triggering the legal process to set Brexit in motion. “This is a historic moment from which there can be no turning back. Britain is leaving the European Union,” she said. “We are going to make our own decisions and our laws. We will take control of the most important things for us. And we will take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain — a country that our kids and grandkids are proud to call home. union.
Caption: Theresa May with the World Cup team of England (Source: Instagram)
Shortly afterward, on June 8, an early general election resulted in the loss of her Conservative Party’s Parliamentary majority. In November, the PM faced additional troubles with the resignation of two cabinet ministers — Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel and Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon— seven days in length.
In early December, a report surfaced that MI5, the British domestic intelligence agency, had foiled a terrorist plot to assassinate May. According to the report, two men were planning to use improvised explosives to blow up the gate at the prime minister’s residence and kill her in the ensuing chaos. The two suspects were arrested in late November.
Brexit Setbacks
During the year of 2013, she suffered another setback in the ongoing Brexit process. Besides requesting maximum leeway to negotiate with E.U. leaders over terms of departure the parliament also rejected her. They said that any final deal to withdraw is submitted via legislation. Due to this, she was viewed to have diminished leverage heading into her discussions with the E.U.
In the year 2018, she butted heads with Donald Trump. And sought to present a more unified front with the American president at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Similarly, Trump praised their “great relationship,” where she cited the importance of maintaining a strong alliance. She even said,
“We face the same challenges across the world, and as you say we’re willing to go and to defeat those challenges and meet them.”
Similarly, she was set to chair the first of two Brexit meetings with senior ministers to outline the parameters of a relationship between the U.K. and E.U in early February. Due to the businesses applying pressure on the government to provide a clear strategy, the cabinet aimed to hash out differences on whether to go for “clean” separation. And had to strike new trade deals, or retain close access to the single market.
Historic Defeat
By the year 2019, just 10 weeks before Britain was scheduled to leave the bloc, she had suffered a historic defeat in Parliament. From which she got rejected her proposed Brexit deal by a vote of 432 to 202 by lawmakers.
Additionally, she had to back off on some of her Brexit demands by March. The two sides outlined a provisional agreement in which the U.K. would retain the benefits of the single market and customs union, with Northern Ireland remaining under E.U. law to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. And by the end of March, she reportedly said she would resign if her withdrawal plan received the approval of lawmakers.
Resignation
May had announced that she was resigning as Prime Minister. And leader of the Conservative Party on the 24th of May 2019. She even had differences across Parliament and within her party where she said:
“I believe it was right to persevere, even when the odds against success seemed high. But it is now clear to me that it is in the best interests of the country for a new Prime Minister to lead that effort.”
“I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honor of my life to hold — the second female Prime Minister but certainly not the last. I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.”
After this speech, she formally stepped down from her post on July 24, 2019. She had given way her post to new Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Brand Endorsements
The former UK president is also involved in brand endorsement activities. She is the current brand ambassador for JDRF’s global research program.
Awards
The ex-Prime Minister has won the ‘Fawcett Society’. In this award, she received a nomination as one of the ‘Society’s Inspiring Women’ of the year 2006. Similarly, she is the recipient of the ‘Freedom of the City of London’ award. She received the Honorary Doctorate from the ‘World Sikh University on 30 November 2014. Moreover, she also became the second-most powerful woman behind Angela Merkel as listed by ‘Forbes’ in September 2017.
Theresa May – Net Worth 2024
Moreover, Theresa May’s net worth estimation is around 2 million pounds sterling.
Personal Life
Talking about May’s personal life, she is a married woman. Her husband is Philip May who is a financier and they married in 1980. The couple had first met when they were studying at the college. Regarding their life, the couple doesn’t have children due to their medical issues. Her husband Philip is an investment banker, currently employed by ‘Capital International.’
Caption: Theresa May with her husband Philip May (Source: The Independent)
Similarly, she had a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. Besides her career, she has a reputation for her style and fondness for shoes. In the year 2002, she reportedly wore leopard print heels when she made her “Nasty Party” speech. She is even an Anglican and worships regularly. Moreover, she has stated that her faith
“is part of me. It is part of who I am and therefore how I approach things.”
Theresa May – Body Measurements
Theresa May is a good-looking woman with a good personality. Talking about her body measurement, she has a height of 5 feet 8 inches and weighs 65 kg. Reflecting her distinctive feature she has short-cropped hair and a sharp-pointed nose. Likewise, she has white brown hair and brown eyes.
Theresa May – Social Media
Theresa May is active on social media. She has a huge fan following on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. She has above 5millions followers on Facebook and 151k followers on Instagram. Whereas, 928.7k followers are on Twitter. Further, she is a verified user on both Instagram and Twitter. She joined Twitter in June 2016 and has shared 396 posts on her Instagram as of March 2020.