May must show she’s learned from poll fiasco

THERESA MAY’S decision to call a snap Election must rank as one of the greatest misjudgments made by a peacetime British Prime Minister.

Mrs May had a comfortable Commons majority, sufficient to embolden the country in our negotiations with the EU and to deliver the domestic reforms intended to secure her legacy.

All of that has been lost: her Government is paralysed by the demands of trying to push Brexit-enabling legislation t hrough a hung Parliament, while Jeremy Corbyn – unimaginably – stands within touching distance of No 10.

Now we learn, from a gripping new account of t he Election which we serialise today, that even Mrs May herself was opposed to calling it – only to be talked into it by Brexit Secretary David Davis.

Despite opposition from the vast majority of her Cabinet, advisers and even her husband Philip, Mr Davis assured Mrs May that she would crush Mr Corbyn and brushed aside the objections of experienced strategist Sir Lynton Crosby.

No wonder the ambitious Mr Davis pledged his loyalty during her long dark night of the soul on Election night: he must have felt a great degree of responsibility for her predicament.

The book also shines a harsh light on Mrs May’s dealings with her Chancellor.

Philip Hammond was not only kept away from the campaign trail; he was cut out of discussions about the manifesto and barred from providing public costings for policies, while Mrs May would raise her eyebrows at the mention of his name.

At any time, a strong relationship between the Prime Minister and Chancellor is essential to the smooth running of the country. But it is even more critical when, as now, the governing party is bitterly divided over the nature of the deal we should obtain from Brussels.

Mr Hammond has been a cool head in this administration, wisely trying to steer Mrs May away from the Tory Brexiteers who have been advocating a ‘hard’ break with Brussels.

Our inside account of the Election paints a worrying picture of chaos and dysfunction at the heart of the Conservatives.

As Mrs May prepares to face her shell-shocked troops at her party conference next month, she will need to demonstrate that her grip on the country is more assured.

Most importantly, she will need to show that she has learned the lessons of the June fiasco.