Brief overview: The British press is having a field day on the back of yesterday’s shock election results. Having not won a majority in parliament, May and the Conservatives sought to make a deal with the far right Irish DUP (Democratic Unionist Party). Rumours circulated that two thirds of Tory MP’s are calling for May’s resignation. The right-wing media have turned on May completely, reprimanding her for her failed gamble. On the left, gleeful report about May’s gloomy looking future comes hand in hand with anger at her proposed deal to work with the DUP.

The Daily Mail

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: Tories turn on Theresa.

Today’s paper reports whispers of civil war emerging from no. 10. The paper relays claims that Tory MPs are furious about the election result and are now ‘turning on Theresa’. Per the Mail, May had to be talked out of resigning as the results started to come in.

Losing the support of the Daily Mail is hugely significant for May. The paper’s editor, Paul Dacre, was the only media head invited into no. 10 in her first 6 months, and its politics editor left the paper to become May’s spokesman last year. The paper did refer to May’s speech yesterday as ‘defiant’, whilst others saw it as deluded and failing to have a grasp on reality.

Afterthought: It is worth noting that today’s Mail chose to not run a picture of May’s face alongside it’s headline. Keep an eye on which candidate this paper tips to potentially take over from May, should she be forced to resign.

The Daily Telegraph

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: May fights to remain PM.

Today’s paper talks of the turmoil in the Conservative party after yesterday’s result. The weak result, which did anything but stabilise the UK’s position entering Brexit negotiations, has caused worry for the paper, which states that that they may now be ‘at risk of failure’.

The paper goes on to suggest a list of potential candidates that could replace May. This list includes Boris Johnson, Amber Rudd and David Davis.

Afterthought: Are we about to see our second unelected prime minister within the space of two years? Pundits are placing bets, with Boris Johnson getting 5/1 odds following the results of the election.

The Times

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: May stares into the abyss.

Today, The Times follow the example of many of the papers and criticises May. The paper points towards the foolish decision to call a snap general election, when there was no need. This runs contrary to the headlines that came out around the time, when May was praised for looking to stabilise her position entering Brexit negotiations.

The paper talks of May having to ‘face up the realities’ of just how poor her party’s performance was, and the repercussions of losing the majority.

Afterthought: As we have discussed before, at the time of the snap election being called, the Conservative party had a majority in the house and an average of a 17-point lead. May’s decision to call a snap election was Machiavellian, and that is not criticism. At the time, pundits from all over the spectrum pointed towards it being a wise decision — Labour was in chaos, and May could use the chance to finally consolidate her power. Over the course of the campaign, they dropped the ball, and have now lost house majority.

The Guardian

Political leaning: Left

Today’s leading headline: From hubris to humiliation.

The Guardian is having a field day considering the election result. Today’s headline accompanies a picture of a distraught and wearied looking May, as the paper reprimands her decision to have called the election as an act of hubris.

Reports have begun to emerge of internal chaos emerging from within no.10, as a potential leadership contest formulates, of May crying as the results came in and the PM having to be talked into not resigning on the spot. The Guardian talks of an invigorated Labour party.

Afterthought: And how the mighty have fallen. Like a Greek tragedy straight from the hands of Euripides, or perhaps a comedy from the mind of Aristophanes, May’s Conservative campaign has come to a depressing end. Lessons must be learnt by all parties about the dangers of engaging in an overly personal political smear campaign, and relying on the right-wing press to whip up support among older voters.

The i

Political leaning: Centre

Today’s leading headline: May clings to power.

The i today covers May’s position following yesterday’s results. The paper describes the Prime Minister as ‘isolated’ following the snap election, which it refers to as a ‘catastrophic misjudgement’. Discussion about the Tories deal with the DUP takes up the remainder of the conversation, as many are highly critical of the potential relationship with the far right-wing party.

Afterthought: Hindsight is 20:20. Some would suggest it is unfair to call May’s decision to have a snap election a misjudgement, as the circumstances at the time looked favourable.

The Daily Mirror

Political leaning: Left

Today’s leading headline: Coalition of crackpots.

Playing on May’s campaign statement of a a potential Corbyn government being a coalition of chaos, today’s Mirror ridicules May for her proposed deal with the DUP. The paper calls the DUP ‘hard right’ and claims that multiple Tory MP’s are furious at May’s performance over the election.

Afterthought: The potential deal with the DUP will raise huge concerns across a large portion of the political spectrum and with the voter base.

Financial Times (UK)

Political leaning: Centre

Today’s leading headline: May clings to power as news front opens in Brexit battle..

Today’s FT focuses on the repercussions the election result will have on May’s Brexit campaign. It quotes an anonymous minister who states that ‘in practical terms, Brexit is dead’, as May will be unable to push through the legislation she needs to gain the Brexit she desires.

Finally, the paper suggests that pro-European parties will look to the election result as a way of pursuing a softer Brexit

Afterthought: Now that the election is done, we can all look forward to seeing how our country negotiates a Brexit deal of some sort. Joy.

The Sun

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: She’s had her chips.

Murdoch shows his displeasure at May through today’s Sun, lambasting her performance as potentially allowing ‘Red Jezza’ to come close to Downing Street. However, despite reporting that May will be ‘toast’ in the next year, it also adds that she is currently remaining in power to hold of Corbyn.

Afterthought: It’s interesting to see just how quickly Murdoch’s support of May ran dry. Today’s headline is hostile, and the claim that May will be gone in a year is a statement of intent.