Last month, word began to spread around Whitehall that the Prime Minister would not take kindly to any ‘mansplaining’ — after No 10 took umbrage at male politicians, officials, diplomats and journalists talking over, patronising or failing to listen to May. As the Times revealed, the row was triggered after Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the national security adviser, managed to do at least one of the above during a visit to Downing Street.
So, Mr S can’t help but wonder how exactly May is going to get on on her upcoming visit to the Gulf region. On her two-day trip to Bahrain, May will become the first female politician to attend the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council. While she is hoping to strengthen trade ties, the conversation at dinner on Tuesday evening with the leaders of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia could prove a challenge. Should May get a one-on-one chat with Saudi King Salman, perhaps he can explain to her in a non-patronising manner why women — who only won the right to vote in the country last year — shouldn’t drive, participate in sport, or try on clothes when shopping.
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