I wonder if this sounds familiar. It’s almost two years since a general election, and the governing party is tearing itself apart. The PM, frequently criticised for being an awkward and unnatural communicator, is being pushed to announce a departure date – while trying to focus on the cost of living for ordinary Brits. Donald Trump is in the Oval Office and turning normal diplomacy on its head. Nigel Farage has launched a new party that is predicted to gouge votes from the government’s right flank. Outspoken MPs to the left are also causing major headaches.
The year I’m talking about is 2019, the evening of the final European Parliament elections held in the UK before it left the EU. The prime minister, of course, is Theresa May – and I was there. I was a junior adviser in the PM’s political office at the time. This meant handling MPs, party members and staff – essentially her role as leader of the Conservatives. It was not an easy time. Losing councillors means you are gutting your electoral machine. They are vital for canvassing and leafleting in general elections, and now a load of them have lost their jobs – and a nice bit of income – on your watch.
