07:20

The verdict of German commentators on Theresa May’s performance in the TV duel, which was livestreamed on many media sites last night and watched closely by political observers, might be summed up as rather damning. Interestingly, they pay far less attention to Corbyn in their analysis this morning.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) noted that May avoided answering several important questions, most notably over Brexit. “Asked if she thought Brexit a good idea (having voted against it) she dodged the question,” the paper said. “Theresa May is a worse election campaigner than expected,” it went on, adding that she was on the wrong foot from the start, having called an election after saying she wouldn’t.

May, who was always presented as someone who was straight down the line and reliable, broke a promise because it suited her to do so in that moment.

To watch May as an election campaigner, it continued, “is to see a speech robot who always comes out with the same slogans”. Seeing the Tories’ sinking poll ratings, the SZ concluded:

Probably it was a mistake to have focused the campaign so much on May, a woman who the British are only now getting to know better … May promised a strong and stable government, but now the Tories appear nervous, even aggressive, resorting to personal attacks against Corbyn.

Die Welt said May was “unashamedly laughed at by the public in the TV duel”. It continued:

She was laughed at, she didn’t have her facial expressions under control, she swallowed too often, and shrugged her shoulders apparently for no reason. A few times she opened her mouth and no sound came out. She gave the impression of being distracted and nervous.

Deutschland Funk, the main news radio station, said May was “visibly under pressure,” suggesting that she had deliberately avoided a direct duel with Corbyn because she knew she wouldn’t perform well. “Theresa May was evasive, particularly on why, in her six years as home secretary, she had not succeeded in restricting immigration,” the broadcaster noted, and over the Brexiters’ promise of £350m per week that would go towards the NHS. Confronted on these issues by Jeremy Paxman, it added, she looked “far from strong and stable, as is her her motto”.