Top 70 Theresa May Quotes (2024 Update)

1. “The internet is changing all forms of communication, and this definitely includes political communication.”

— Theresa May

2. “In tough times, everyone has to take their share of the pain.”

— Theresa May

3. “Uncontrolled, mass immigration displaces British workers, forces people onto benefits, and suppresses wages for the low-paid.”

— Theresa May

4. “I’m sick and tired of government ministers in this Labour government who simply blame other people when things go wrong.”

— Theresa May

5. “I’d personally like to see the Human Rights Act go because I think we have had some problems with it.”

— Theresa May

6. “I’m not willing to risk more terrorist plots succeeding and more paedophiles going free.”

— Theresa May

7. “If ever there was a time for a PM ready and able to do the job from day one, this is it.”

— Theresa May

8. “I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things as prime minister, and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the Conservative Party.”

— Theresa May

9. “If you are from an ordinary working class family, life is just much harder than many people in politics realise.”

— Theresa May

10. “I will be ruthless in cutting out waste, streamlining structures and improving efficiency.”

— Theresa May

11. “Like Indiana Jones, I don’t like snakes – though that might lead some to ask why I’m in politics.”

— Theresa May

12. “We’re getting rid of bureaucracy, so that we’re releasing time for police officers to be crime fighters and not form writers.”

— Theresa May

13. “I believe it’s important that we ensure that the police have a modern and flexible workforce. I think that’s what is necessary, so that they can provide the public with the service that they want.”

— Theresa May

14. “I think there is a break down of trust generally, between people and politicians. I think that’s come about for a whole variety of reasons.”

— Theresa May

15. “I think it’s important to do a good job and not to feel that you’ve got to make grand gestures, but just to get on and deliver.”

— Theresa May

16. “Local people do want to see more police on the streets.”

— Theresa May

17. “I’m not sure I should reveal the sources of my clothes.”

— Theresa May

18. “My pitch is very simple. I’m Theresa May and I think I’m the best person to be prime minister of this country.”

— Theresa May

19. “What we’re also doing is helping police forces in terms of issues like procurement and IT, so that savings can be made in those areas which I think is the sort of thing that everybody is going to want us to be doing.”

— Theresa May

20. “National security is the first duty of government but we are also committed to reversing the substantial erosion of civil liberties.”

— Theresa May

21. “I am very grateful to my colleagues for their support. There is a big job before us: to unite our party and the country, to negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU, and to make Britain work for everyone.”

— Theresa May

22. “I will not allow a Delia Smith cookbook in my house! It’s all so precise with Delia, and it makes cooking seem so inaccessible.”

— Theresa May

23. “There is nothing inevitable about crime and there is nothing inevitable about anti-social behaviour.”

— Theresa May

24. “Anti-social behaviour still blights lives, wrecks communities and provides a pathway to criminality.”

— Theresa May

25. “I’m a first-past-the-post person, and always have been.”

— Theresa May

26. “A lot of men in politics suddenly woke up to the issue of women in politics when they realised: hey, there are votes in this!”

— Theresa May

27. “Whether an MP is a woman or a man, it’s about the qualities of the individual in doing that job.”

— Theresa May

28. “The internet makes it much easier for politicians to communicate directly with voters – think of the interest when David launched WebCameron, or Tony Blair’s rather embarrassing attempt to catch up on YouTube.”

— Theresa May

29. “We are mandating forces to hold regular neighbourhood beat meetings. These meetings will give local people the chance to scrutinise the work of their local police.”

— Theresa May

30. “I take a very simple view that a violent extremist at some point previously been an extremist, and by definition is an extremist, so you do need to look at that non-violent extremism.”

— Theresa May

31. “I was a teenage godmother.”

— Theresa May

32. “I am a vicar’s daughter and still a practising member of the Church of England.”

— Theresa May

33. “I am willing to consider powers which would ban known hooligans from rallies and marches and I will look into the powers the police already have to force the removal of face coverings and balaclavas.”

— Theresa May

34. “My night out would be with my husband, wherever he chose to take me.”

— Theresa May

35. “Sham marriages have been widespread; people have been allowed to settle in Britain without being able to speak English; and there have not been rules in place to stop migrants becoming a burden on the taxpayer. We are changing all of that.”

— Theresa May

36. “People feel that they’re being required to meet all sorts of regulations and rules and requirements in their areas of work and MPs are not imposing those sort of restrictions on themselves.”

— Theresa May

37. “Today I can announce a raft of reforms that we estimate could save over 2.5 million police hours every year. That’s the equivalent of more than 1,200 police officer posts. These reforms are a watershed moment in policing. They show that we really mean business in busting bureaucracy.”

— Theresa May

38. “You can’t solve a problem as complex as inequality in one legal clause.”

— Theresa May

39. “I believe in marriage. I believe marriage is a really important institution, it’s one of the most important institutions we have.”

— Theresa May

40. “Dealing with a simple burglary can require 1000 process steps and 70 forms to be completed as a case goes through the Criminal Justice System. That can’t be right.”

— Theresa May

41. “It is clearly important for all leadership candidates to be open and transparent about their tax affairs. I was very happy to publish mine today, and hope others will follow suit.”

— Theresa May

42. “I want a counter-terrorism regime that is proportionate, focused and transparent.”

— Theresa May

43. “Countries across the world are taking action now to help them track paedophiles and terrorists who abuse new technology to plot their horrific crimes.”

— Theresa May

44. “Communities need to feel that they can accommodate people. Rather than feeling that it’s not possible to integrate and that the stress and strain on housing and public services is too great.”

— Theresa May

45. “I support selecting as many candidates as early as possible for lots of reasons. First of all I think it is important that every voter – regardless of where they live in the country – should have the opportunity to vote Conservative should they wish.”

— Theresa May

46. “And it is crucial of course that chief constables are able to make decisions within their budgets about how they deploy their police officers to the greatest effect to ensure that they’re able to do the job that the public want them to do.”

— Theresa May

47. “I am delighted to have won so much support from my colleagues. The Conservative Party can come together – and under my leadership it will.”

— Theresa May

48. “Any attempt to wriggle, especially from leadership candidates who campaigned to leave the EU by focusing on immigration, will be unacceptable to the public.”

— Theresa May

49. “I look forward to continuing the debate about Britain’s future – in Parliament and across the country.”

— Theresa May

50. “I think major reorganisation is not something the government’s about to do.”

— Theresa May