ANNE MCELVOY

Senior editor, The Economist

Theresa May’s government is an entry-level mess, but it’s nowhere near the premier league of worst administrations. In 1974 Edward Heath lost to the miners. After issuing his “Who governs Britain?” challenge, the voters answered: “Not you”. May, for all her miscalculation about the June election, won it. It could only get worse after Heath’s defeat. Harold Wilson returned, inflation rocketed, culminating in the humiliation of the IMF bailout in 1976 and Denis Healey being forced to return for a meeting of finance ministers to face public wrath. This is what happens when it goes really bad: an advance note from history to Jeremy Corbyn. May is in a mess because Brexit is unmanageable. But the economy is not tanking – unlike in the early 70s – and her ratings still lead Labour’s. Accident-prone, internally stressed and lacking in flair? Yes. But the worst? Not even close.

ROB FORD

Professor of political science, Manchester University

‘Too soon to tell’

Few governments have performed so poorly relative to expectations as Theresa May’s Tories did in June. But on other, broader measures, this is not (yet) a uniquely bad government. Like the 1970s Labour administration, May’s is internally divided, weakened by the lack of a Commons majority and battered by turbulent events at home and abroad. Yet Britain’s economic circumstances are nothing like as bad as they were then. Brexit remains unresolved, but as yet it has not produced an international crisis on a par with the IMF bailout James Callaghan had to seek, or the Suez crisis, which earlier sunk the Eden government. Ultimately, though, it is too soon to tell how history (and the electorate) judges this government – that depends on how it resolves the Brexit process, assuming it can survive to see the process through.

IAIN DALE

LBC radio drivetime presenter

Only if you are completely ignorant of our political history and basic economics could you consider this government the worst since 1945. Unlike Anthony Eden or Tony Blair, Theresa May has yet to enter into an ill-judged military escapade. Unlike Ted Heath, she hasn’t seen the country reduced to a three-day week or eating by candlelight. Unlike Jim Callaghan, she hasn’t inflicted 25% inflation on the country or been forced to go to the IMF or presided over record levels of public-sector strikes. Unlike Gordon Brown she hasn’t nearly bankrupted the country. Record numbers of people in work, record low unemployment, the wellbeing index at a record high since the financial crash. I could go on. Yes, her position is weak. Yes, there are Brexit uncertainties and divisions, but it’s far too early to write off Theresa May. She isn’t going anywhere. Get used to it.

AYESHA HAZARIKA

Political commentator

Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘It’s not going so well’

Theresa May needs to sit down and have an honest word with herself. It’s not going so well. Some of that’s not her fault but it’s irrelevant to the public because she’s meant to be in charge. Bad luck becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when you’re a weak leader. She’s also stuck in a Brexistential crisis that is now her main purpose. She should strip away all the superfluous activity, which she isn’t very good at, and focus on delivering the least damaging Brexit by listening to business, keeping the public informed, working cross-party and not being hijacked by her anti-EU backbenchers and newspaper barons. History will judge her more kindly if she finds the courage to put country above factional party interests. She should also focus on a few key domestic issues, including housing, regional investment and public services. And of course, she should sack Boris Johnson.

FRASER NELSON

Editor, The Spectator

Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘The Conservatives have been in far worse pickles’

A government with income inequality at a 30-year low, unemployment at a 42-year low and disposable income at an all-time high would struggle to be considered the worst government in a century. Yes, things are often messy, but the electorate factored that in when they defied the various party leaders who campaigned against Brexit. The prime minister’s popularity is higher than Jeremy Corbyn’s and significantly better than John Major’s or Gordon Brown’s at their nadir. The news is often embarrassing, but the Conservatives have been in (and recovered from) far worse pickles.