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MAGGIE MAY

Theresa May’s sassy Corbyn slap-downs at PMQs spark Margaret Thatcher comparisons

She also ribbed Labour for its failure to ever have a woman leader

THERESA May recalled Maggie Thatcher yesterday by monstering Jeremy Corbyn in her first Prime Minister’s Questions.

She used the Iron Lady’s slogan when rubbishing talk of austerity by saying she called it “living within our means”.

 Theresa May enjoyed her first turn at the despatch box during PMQs
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Theresa May enjoyed her first turn at the despatch box during PMQsCredit: PA:Press Association
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Commentators said May went "full Thatcher" at the despatch box during PMQs

And she aped Maggie at her best when demolishing a question from Mr Corbyn, right, about unscrupulous bosses.

Addressing him, she said: “I suspect there are many on the opposition benches who might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss, a boss who doesn’t listen to his workers, maybe even a boss who exploits rules to further his own career.”

 Jeremy Corbyn was on the back foot from the beginning in his first PMQs with May
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Jeremy Corbyn was on the back foot from the beginning in his first PMQs with MayCredit: PA

Leaning into the despatch box, she asked: “Remind him of anybody?”

Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “Mrs May evoked memories of Mrs Thatcher in her prime. She is brilliant.”

 Former frontbencher George Osborne listens from the backbenches
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Former frontbencher George Osborne listens from the backbenchesCredit: PA:Press Association
 Meanwhile Osborne rival Boris Johnson got used to life on the frontbench as the new Foreign Secretary
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Meanwhile Osborne rival Boris Johnson got used to life on the frontbench as the new Foreign SecretaryCredit: PA:Press Association

Mrs May also chided Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a 1992 the General Election rival.

She said: “Little did voters in North West Durham know the two unsuccessful candidates would become leaders of two political parties. Though I would point out to the Honourable Gentleman my party is a bit bigger than his.”.

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