Theresa May - Personal Life and Public Image

Personal Life and Public Image

She married Philip John May on 6 September 1980; and has no children. Outside politics, May states her interests as walking and cooking. May's fashion choices and well-publicised fondness for designer shoes often draw comment in the media. Journalists have drawn parallels between May's shift to designer apparel and her political rise in fortunes since her debut as an MP.

Since coming to prominence in front-bench politics, May's public image has also tended to polarise media opinion, especially from the traditionalist right-wing press. Commenting on May's debut as Home Secretary, Anne Perkins of The Guardian observed that 'she'll be nobody's stooge', while Cristina Odone of The Daily Telegraph judged her to be 'the rising star' of the coalition government. Quentin Letts of The Daily Mail later described May's performance in the role of Home Secretary as 'unflappable' and Allegra Stratton, then with The Guardian described May as showing managerial acumen.

May and her husband own two houses whose value has been estimated at £1.6 million. Her parliamentary expenses have been 'modest' (only just over £15,000 for the past four years) in recent years.

Theresa May is an Anglican and attends church every Sunday.

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