Theresa May must now build the cabinet she really wants | Martin Kettle

Having distanced herself from the Cameron era, she can shuffle the pack, and deliver the social change that she promised, and that Brexit demands

After exactly nine months as prime minister, Theresa May commands British politics to a degree few would have predicted when she took office. The latest Guardian-ICM opinion poll gives the Conservatives an 18-point lead over Labour. In next month’s local elections, the Conservative party is predicted to make a net gain of around 50 seats – a rare achievement for a government party in midterm. Not since Tony Blair and, before him, Margaret Thatcher, has British politics known such a dominant figure.

Inevitably, such statistics trigger talk of an early general election. But the consistent word out of Downing Street is that it won’t happen, not just because the Fixed Term Parliament Act makes such a thing more difficult, but also because that isn’t the style of someone who prides herself on just getting on with the job.

Related: If Theresa May really wants to protect refugees why does she fuel such hatred? | Aditya Chakrabortty

Get rid of the worst offenders, like Chris Grayling and Liam Fox. Swap Justine Greening and Jeremy Hunt

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