Portrait of Theresa May
Politician · person
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Theresa May on Boris Johnson

Brexit critic, moralist (strong)

TL;DR

Theresa May has publicly criticised Boris Johnson for abandoning global moral leadership and his handling of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

Key Points

  • She accused him in January 2021 of failing to uphold British values by threatening to break international law during Brexit talks.

  • The former prime minister maintained that the Withdrawal Agreement she reached was better than the final deal ultimately secured by Johnson.

  • She has repeatedly clashed with her successor in Parliament, especially concerning issues related to Northern Ireland and the Good Friday agreement.

Summary

Theresa May has levelled significant criticism against her successor, Boris Johnson, most notably accusing him in January 2021 of abandoning Britain's position of global moral leadership. She specifically cited his threat to break international law during Brexit trade negotiations and his decision to abandon the 0.7% international aid target as actions that diminished the UK's international credibility. This stance was often expressed around the time of major political events, suggesting a fundamental disagreement over governing philosophy and adherence to international commitments post-Brexit.

Beyond matters of principle, the former prime minister also asserted that her own negotiated Withdrawal Agreement was superior to the one ultimately championed and delivered by Johnson. Their relationship has been marked by clashes, particularly in Parliament concerning Brexit talks involving Northern Ireland and the Good Friday agreement, indicating a sustained division over the final terms of departure from the European Union and the resulting international standing of the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Theresa May's main criticism centres on Boris Johnson abandoning the UK's global moral leadership and failing to uphold national values on the world stage. She pointed to specific actions, like threatening to breach international law, as evidence of this decline in credibility.

While their political careers overlapped with mutual support at times, her public statements since leaving office show a clear negative evolution in her stance towards him. Her criticisms have become notably unrestrained in recent years, particularly concerning Brexit outcomes.

Theresa May publicly stated that her own Withdrawal Agreement was a better deal than the one Boris Johnson eventually negotiated and delivered. This implies a fundamental disagreement on the specifics and the associated international compromises made.