A clapped out leader

THERESA May yesterday deceived both herself and the country.

The Prime Minister knows her party is split on Brexit and her Chequers plan is on life support – so it was preposterous for her to call on the party to come together to deliver a deal loathed by Tory Remainers and Leavers alike.

She may have danced on stage but she cannot dance around the difficulties ahead.

The applause at the end of her speech was just a synthetic show of unity.

A far bigger deception was Mrs May’s promise to call time on austerity. The PM has clearly been rattled by Jeremy Corbyn and forced to march on to Labour’s territory.

The panicked announcements on housing, buses and health were welcome but hardly scratch the surface of what is needed.

If Mrs May were genuine, she would halt the planned cuts to town halls and other services.

After the conference season, the choice facing voters is clear. There is the bold agenda outlined by Labour, which would reduce inequality, boost jobs and raise wages.

Or there is the timid offering from a tired and divided Tory Party yet to grasp the scale of the challenge facing the country.