Theresa May’s neighbours sing her praises

Mr Jim Charlesworth has no doubts about the abilities of his local MP and neighbour Theresa May. “She will be the best Prime Minister this country has ever known,” the 69- year- old said.

Ms May, who will replace David Cameron as Britain’s next leader on Wednesday, is widely viewed as hard- working, tough but approachable in her constituency of Maidenhead in southern England.

“I can’t say a wrong word about that lady — she will get this country back on its feet,” Mr Charlesworth said. Ms May has represented Maidenhead, west of London, since 1997. She was re- elected as its Conservative MP last year with 65.8 per cent of the vote.

“I never voted for her but I do respect her, she is a very hard- working MP,” said Ms Anne Matkin, 64.

She said Ms May was “always willing to listen and to help people” despite, for the past six years as interior minister, holding one of the toughest jobs in the government.

“She spends a lot of time in the area,” adds Ms Maxine Lattimer, a 46year- old housewife with five children, describing her as a “nice, caring woman”.

She recalled how Ms May attended a recent parade to celebrate St. George’s Day, in honour of England’s patron saint, along with her bodyguards. After six years as home secretary, she now has the tough task of uniting the country and leading Britain out of the European Union.

Ms Lattimer has no doubt that Ms May is the right person to lead the Brexit negotiations.

“She’ll be very assertive, she’ll work really really hard for the best interest of Britain. She won’t shy away from difficult decisions — she is tough when she needs to be,” she said.

The 60,000 residents of Maidenhead, many of whom commute to work in London, bucked the trend across England by voting for Britain to stay in the EU.

Ms May has repeatedly said that she will uphold the will of the public and that “Brexit means Brexit”.