Former Prime Minister Theresa May, who is stepping down after 27 years in the House of Commons, acknowledged in an ITV documentary that she should have met survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire sooner. The 2017 tragedy, which claimed 72 lives, was a significant part of her tenure as prime minister. Her chief of staff, Gavin Barwell, admitted the decision not to meet victims immediately was a mistake.

May also took full responsibility for the Windrush scandal, where over 80 long-term UK residents were wrongly deported. She admitted her government’s “hostile environment” policies were flawed, including the controversial 2013 “Go home or face arrest” advertising campaign overseen by the Home Office under her leadership.

In the same documentary, May described former U.S. President Donald Trump as “unpredictable,” particularly recalling a moment in 2017 when Trump unexpectedly held her hand during a walk outside the White House. May reflected on her premiership, including her controversial Brexit negotiations and the political fallout within her Cabinet. Notably, Penny Mordaunt revealed that key aspects of May’s Brexit deal were pre-agreed with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel before a crucial Cabinet meeting at Chequers.

Senior political figures like Amber Rudd and Suella Braverman offered varied perspectives on May’s legacy, with Rudd suggesting her reputation has improved compared to subsequent prime ministers. The documentary, “Theresa May: The Accidental Prime Minister,” airs on ITV1.