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Viewers brand Theresa May “uncaring” following “embarrassing” TV interview about Grenfell Tower tragedy

The PM was grilled by Emily Maitlis

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Theresa May has been heavily slammed for an appearance on Newsnight with Emily Maitlis where she answered questions on the Grenfell Tragedy.

And viewers have responded by calling her “inhuman”, “embarrassing” and “uncaring”.

The Prime Minister had already been strongly criticised after failing to speak to victims of the fire when she visited on Thursday.

In stark contrast, leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn was seen sharing hugs and comforting those who had been affected.

As May returned to the scene of the tragedy on Friday, she was greeted with screams of ‘Coward’ and ‘May must go.’

When interviewer Emily Maitlis raised these points however, the Prime Minister stuck to stock answers and did not directly address the issues.

“You misread the public mood on this one,” said Maitlis. “You misread the anger that people feel about this.

“They shouted coward after you this afternoon when you left St Clement’s.”

May – looking uncomfortable – responded in what many people saw as her trademark robotic fashion.

“What I have done since this incident took place is, first of all yesterday, ensure that public services had the support that they needed in order to be able to do the job they were doing in the immediate aftermath,” she said.

Read more: The Beckham boys have been doing their bit to help

Maitlis then pushed her on the timescale.

“But that’s three days on, Prime Minister, this is Friday evening. They needed those things in place on Wednesday,” she said. “No one was in charge.”

Once again, the Prime Minister answered in what many saw as soundbites.

“What I have done today is ensured that we are, as a government, putting that funding in place for people in the area,” she said.

After the interview, upset viewers took to social media in their droves to comment.

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While some felt that May had been given a rough ride, most believed that she had handled the questions badly.

One viewer wrote on Twitter: “How can someone be so inhuman and uncaring? Theresa May is a write-off now more than ever.”

Another posted: “Theresa May there’s a time to be a politician and there’s a time to be human…”

A third said: “Watched the Newsnight interview – Theresa May is either unable or unwilling to read anyone’s mood. One is shocking the other obscene.”

Actress Morven Christie added: “Theresa May’s interview on Newsnight. I’m so horrified by her I don’t even know what to say.”


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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