Theresa May has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail as we head towards the 8 June general election. Making virtually no public appearances, and refusing to join televised leadership debates, the Prime Minister is invisible. So a voter dressed as a chicken is on the case.
No spring chicken
The Mirror chicken is following May around the country, as she attends her invitation-only speaking engagements.
I went to ruffle @TheresaMay's feathers – but she clucked off elsewhere… https://t.co/Dk3jIKTkmv pic.twitter.com/PLMYjiVSD0
— Mirror Chicken (@MirrorChicken) April 21, 2017
Come on, @Theresa_May. At least give us a wave before you fly off. https://t.co/jYKNfAosbc pic.twitter.com/Iin4g2tIZx
— Mirror Chicken (@MirrorChicken) April 25, 2017
@theresa_may Boooooook bok bok pic.twitter.com/oLmPQTsqYO
— Mirror Chicken (@MirrorChicken) April 21, 2017
David Cameron faced ridicule after trying to avoid TV debates during the 2015 general election. This culminated in being chased around the country by a Mirror staffer dressed as a chicken. He finally capitulated.
May has failed to learn the lesson from history. So it is now her turn to face down the giant man-bird.
The invisible Prime Minister
The Mirror is not alone in noticing the absent PM. The opening days of May’s campaign have been calamitous, with the Prime Minister barely visible. And when she has appeared, the results have been less than rousing:
Theresa May's speech sending waves of inspiration & hope through this joyous working class crowd. pic.twitter.com/ZnmEXZu745
— joe heenan (@joeheenan) April 20, 2017
The hashtag #WheresTheresa has been set up in efforts to tease the Prime Minister out of hiding.
.@jeremycorbyn visited 9 places across UK in last 6 days and Scotland today
Where is Theresa May?
Can you find her in this pic?
— For The Many (@ForTheMany2020) April 24, 2017
Theresa May's visit to a Welsh factory today looks so staged that it resembles a propaganda clip from North Korea. #WheresTheresa pic.twitter.com/lyTm1cdX7i
— Pileus Media (@thepileus) April 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/Hapoel4/status/856792028453228544
Calamity May
While May has been in hiding, opposition leaders have been hitting the road, creating excitement around their campaigns.
Well played @UKLabour – grown-ups who don't care if they look silly while reading aloud to kids are simply good people #Corbyn #kidsbooks pic.twitter.com/U2TVAbxUvB
— Clare Doornbos (@ClareReadsBooks) April 21, 2017
PHOTO OF THE DAY |
.@NicolaSturgeon campaigning in #Stirling pic.twitter.com/yQtk5BOpZH
— Vocal Europe (@thevocaleurope) April 26, 2017
.@LeanneWood on the campaign trail in Denbigh today #votePlaid #defendwales pic.twitter.com/AL6HIx23Wm
— Helen Antoniazzi (@HelenRhianwen) April 25, 2017
Theresa May called the snap election hoping that positive polling and a media universally hostile to her opponent would guarantee victory. The PM has made a political gamble. By winning an election pre-Brexit, she would avoid a potential ouster as a hard Tory Brexit becomes reality. But just days into the campaign, it’s becoming clear that this election is no cake walk. UK voters finally have a real choice at the ballot box.
Between her callous policies and her refusal to engage with those outside the Westminster bubble, Theresa May is making that choice easier for many people.
Get Involved!
– Register to vote in the 8 June general election.
– Read more from The Canary on the 2017 general election.
– Read and support independent news outlets that hold the powerful to account. Here are some we recommend. Please add more that you like in the comments:
The Canary, Media Diversified, Novara Media, Corporate Watch, Common Space, Media Lens, Bella Caledonia,Vox Political, Evolve Politics, Real Media, Reel News, STRIKE! magazine, The Bristol Cable, The Meteor,Salford Star, The Ferret.
Featured image via Twitter