It might be raining outside but the political weather has changed, I say in The Sun this morning. Theresa May is now in the strongest position she’s been in since the general election, and Jeremy Corbyn the weakest.
When May addressed the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers on Wednesday, she received a—rather unusual—standing ovation. She herself was in upbeat form telling the meeting that the economy had turned a corner. This, perhaps, explains why the government is now prepared to talk about extra money for the NHS and defence.
The Prime Minister who cut such a reduced figure after the election is now marshalling the Western coalition that is pushing back against Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Brexit, the terms of the transition have been agreed and the talks have moved onto trade. There’s even progress on the domestic front with May announcing plans for a funding boost for the NHS this week as Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson had been urging her to do.
Now, it is important not to exaggerate. Mrs May is benefiting from low, post-election expectations and Jeremy Corbyn’s failings. While on Brexit, progress has been made—in part—by kicking the most difficult decisions down the road. The final deal must ensure that Britain has the chance to chart its own course in the world, to make new trade deals and to capitalise on the tech revolution. Domestically, there is still a pressing need for greater radicalism on housing and more money for the NHS can’t just come from pushing the tax burden—already on its way to a forty-year high—up even further.
But as Mrs May prepares to go walking, she is in a stronger position than anyone would have predicted even a month ago.
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