Now is the moment for Boris to challenge prime minister – Bannon
Former strategist says Thatcher an inspiration for US president’s policies
MARGARET Thatcher is the inspiration for Donald Trump’s policies in the White House, the US president’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon has said.
Mr Bannon also said now is “the moment” for Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary over Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal, to challenge the prime minister to lead the country.
Mr Bannon, who ran Mr Trump’s successful campaign in 2016, said that the president’s policies were based on “pure Thatcherism”.
Mr Bannon told Chopper’s Brexit Podcast on the ‘Daily Telegraph’ website: “What we are trying to do is get a piece of action for the little guy. That’s better jobs, better wages, there is also entrepreneurial finance, giving access to capital, that is pure Thatcherism. She is the inspiration for that – her and [Ronald] Reagan but more Thatcher.
“People have to understand if you want wealth creation, if you want a vibrant robust economy, that comes from entrepreneurs.”
Mr Bannon said Mrs Thatcher, who was prime minister from 1979 to 1990, and her legacy do not get “enough credit and I don’t think we talk enough about it for supporting entrepreneurs. I think her ideas resonate through Trump”.
Mr Bannon (64), a former executive chairman of website Breitbart News, was appointed Mr Trump’s chief strategist when he entered the Oval office in January 2017 but quit last August. He said he still talks to Mr Trump’s staff in the White House.
Mr Bannon poured scorn on Mrs May’s Brexit paper published this week and questioned her leadership.
He said: “Theresa May has got a lot of great qualities – I am not sure if it is the right leader at the right time.”
The publication of the white paper was “the flood tide, the moment” for Mr Johnson, who is yet to speak publicly after his resignation, to act. Asked if now was the moment for Mr Johnson to lead the country, he said: “I believe moments come. It is like Donald Trump... people dismissed him.”
He continued: “Now is the moment. If Boris Johnson looks at this... There comes an inflection point, the Chequers deal was an inflection point, we will have to see what happens.”
He described Mr Johnson as “one of the most dynamic people on the world stage”, adding: “I’ve always found him incredibly engaging. He’s a big ideas guy. I believe he looks like a doer. For someone who was foreign secretary to resign over this, I thought his (resignation) letter was terrific.”
He added: “People respond to bold action, the bold action can have hard edges on it, and the bold action doesn’t have to be perfect, it can be a little shabby some times.” (© Daily Telegraph, London)