Theresa May told LBC she didn’t mind being called a “bloody difficult woman” if that meant standing up for her beliefs.
In an interview, referring to Ken Clarke’s comment about her, she said:
“Well, you know, Ken and I had our interesting debates in the past and I stand by doing what I believe to be the right thing and if standing up for what you believe to be right is being bloody difficult, then so be it!”
The prime minster also commented on what another interviewer called “the constant insatiable obsession” with her shoes. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said:
“It is interesting people focus on my shoes. I don’t think they focus on Philip Hammond’s or Boris Johnson’s in quite the same way.”
“Do I regret the fact that people look at my shoes? Hey, it gives me an excuse to go and buy new shoes.”
Here’s the transcript from the LBC interview:
NF: Final question, I apologise, I don’t normally swear in front of women and I blame a Tory grandee. When Kenneth Clark described you as that bloody woman, how did you react?
TM: Well actually what he said, and I don’t normally swear, was I was a bloody difficult woman!
NF: And are you, Prime Minister?T
M: Well, you know, Ken and I had our interesting debates in the past and I stand by doing what I believe to be the right thing and if standing up for what you believe to be right is being bloody difficult, then so be it!
NF: Well I’m bloody grateful you got up so early! Thank you very much indeed for coming by here on LBC.
TM: Thank you.