Sympathy and daggers after UK PM’s chaotic speech

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British Prime Minister Theresa May hoped that her speech at the Conservative Party conference would be a moment to stamp authority on the party and the country.

After a coughing fit, a prankster handing her a P45 (the document given when a person loses their job), and her conference slogan literally falling apart behind her, many experts believe that hope was left in tatters.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May coughs as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, October 4, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

Conference season is an annual event in Britain, a time when major political parties gather together and set policy objectives. Sometimes they set the stage for a new political star. Sometimes they act as a reset, breathing new life into an embattled leader and emboldening wavering supporters.

For May, a leader denounced as a "dead woman walking" by former chancellor George Osborne after a disastrous election result in June, Wednesday was such an opportunity.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May joked about her coughing fit in a tweet. /Twitter Screenshot

But while many had sympathy for the prime minister, who joked about her cough on Twitter, speculation swirled on Wednesday evening that MPs were again considering how to replace her.

Thursday morning’s newspaper headlines will bring her no cheer, with the front pages labelling the speech a "tragic farce" (Daily Telegraph), an "ordeal" (Financial Times), a "nightmare" (Guardian and Sun), and The Times saying she is on a "final warning."

British newspaper front pages on October 5, 2017. /CGTN Photo

From stable to unsteady

Rewind six months, and May seemed to be in an unassailable position. Her Conservative Party led comfortably in the opinion polls and her MPs were firmly behind her.

After calling an election in June that most assumed would further strengthen her hand, May was left distraught as the opposition Labour Party made unexpected gains and her party lost the majority former leader David Cameron had won just two years earlier.

Letter fell away from a backdrop slogan as Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, on October 4, 2017. /Reuters Photo

She has since made an alliance with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), a deal which has proved controversial given the Northern Irish party’s views on social issues.

The agreement also included one billion British pounds in extra spending for Northern Ireland, a factor that has complicated the government’s reluctance to increase funding in other areas.

Britain's Chancellor Philip Hammond hands a cough sweet to Prime Minister Theresa May during her speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, on October 4, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The backdrop of Brexit, and a split within her party over its terms, have made governing a difficult task. May, who supported Britain staying in the European Union during the 2016 referendum, recently voiced support for a transitional period in which little changes in the relationship.

But some in her party don’t want Britain to leave at all, while others want a far more decisive break-up. Speculation has been constant that rivals are discussing when and how to unseat her.

Boris Johnson

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has made headlines in recent weeks by implying his support for a more decisive split from the EU, sparking theories that he is positioning himself as a replacement for May. Indeed, Simon Brodkin (also known as Lee Nelson), the prankster who handed her the P45 on Wednesday, joked Johnson asked him to do it.

Simon Brodkin tweeted about his P45 prank. /Twitter Screenshot

Johnson also found himself in hot water at the conference in Manchester, after saying that a vision to turn Sirte, a city in war-torn Libya, into a version of Dubai was only being held up by the need to "clear the dead bodies away."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (L) with Brexit Secretary David Davis (C) and Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon (R) at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, on October 4, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The comments were variously condemned as "crass", "insensitive", and "embarrassing" by fellow Conservative MPs, while several cabinet ministers said Johnson had chosen his words unwisely.

Falling down?

May has so far been able to retain her position in Downing Street for three key reasons: The lack of a credible replacement, a desire for stability during Brexit negotiations and fears that a new leader would mean a new election - and that that election would be lost.

Letters fell away from the backdrop slogan immediately after Theresa May concluded her address to the Conservative Party conference. /Reuters Photo

Letters fell from the slogan behind May as she spoke, in what many saw as a metaphor for her leadership. But despite her difficulties on Wednesday, overshadowing policy announcements on housing, organ donation and energy prices, none of the three factors that have kept her in office have changed.

BBC Chief Political Correspondent Laura Kuenssberg on reaction to May's speech. /Twitter Screenshot

The question is, will the speech and the reaction to it persuade the 47 Conservative MPs needed to spark a leadership contest to roll the dice?

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