Theresa May is 'deluded': PM faces social media backlash after vowing to continue in job after General Election humiliation

'What planet is she living on?!'
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Prime Minister Theresa May was today accused of being “delusional” after her maiden speech appeared to ignore the Tories' General Election humiliation.

Baffled political commentators claimed the PM was acting as if the election had not happened in her first statement as leader of a Tory and Democratic Unionist Party government.

Mrs May met with the Queen to ask for permission to form a new government before pledging to lead the UK for the next five years.

Speaking outside Downing Street, she said she would deliver the certainty which Britain “needs more than ever”.

Theresa May outside Downing Street on Friday.
Jeremy Selwyn

But commentators and journalists were left bewildered at the PM’s failure to acknowledge the Tories’ shock election result, hung parliament and recent calls for her to quit.

Former newspaper editor Piers Morgan tweeted: “Does Theresa May think she won? Never seen such a bonkers, deluded speech”.

Former Cabinet minister Ed Balls called the PM's statement "tone deaf, stubborn and bunkered" - adding it will be "the final nail in the coffin of her leadership".

Journalist Michael Deacon said: “Is it possible that Theresa May hasn’t actually heard the election result.”

James Melville said on Twitter “she speaks as if last night never happened” while reporter Shehab Khan asked: "What planet is she living on?!"

Others accused the PM of thrusting the UK into chaos while Gary Lineker said "the only 'certainty' is that Theresa May isn't very good at this Prime Minister lark".

Chuka Umunna, who held his Labour seat in Streatham, tweeted: “Theresa May has absolutely no credibility at all when she talks about creating ‘certainty’. She has been the creator-in-chief of uncertainty”.

Labour’s Leicester MP Jonathan Ashworth said: “Theresa May shows no contrition, refuses to listen and exposed as utterly cack-handed. She will be weak and unstable in Brexit negotiations”.

In her speech on Friday, as husband Philip stood slightly behind her, she said: “We have just been to see Her Majesty the Queen and I will now form a government.

"A government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country.

General Election Night 2017 - In pictures

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“This government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks which will begin in 10 days.”

She added the government will work to keep the nation “safe and secure”, cracking down on Islamic extremism and give the police they power they need.

Echoing her campaign promise for strength and stability, Mrs May said: “What the country needs more than ever is certainty.”

She said only the Tories and the Unionist parties, having secured the largest number of votes and greatest number of seats, “have the legitimacy to provide that certainty”.

She pledged to deliver on Brexit, finishing her speech with the words: “That’s what people voted for last June. That’s what we will deliver. Now let’s get to work”.

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