Despite repeatedly asserting that she would not call a snap general election, Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap general election.
Despite her strong popularity in the polls and the necessary confidence to call a snap election, May has refused to take part in campaign TV debates.
May explained her decision by claiming:
We won't be doing television debates. I believe in campaigns where politicians actually get out and about and meet with voters.
To which the public responded with a Change.org petition demanding her participation. Which you should absolutely not check out here.
Amd whatever you do, don't sign it. Or, ya know, share it with all your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
But anyway.
You could assume that at campaign event in a Leeds business centre (traditionally a Labour heartland), May would be "out and about" meeting with voters to spread her message and answer questions.
But one employee claims that the Conservative party allegedly kept the audience exclusive for supporters, not the general public.
Developer Rik Kendell tweeted in response to this photo:
Theresa May is live in Leeds on Labour territory tonight! What shall I ask her? #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/Kv6qxoRRUd
— Christopher Hope 📝 (@christopherhope) April 27, 2017
@MagsNews @christopherhope 100% correct. That's my workplace, she didn't arrive until we'd all left for the day. Everyone in the building past 6pm was invite-only.
— Rik Kendell (@Rikki_Sixx) April 27, 2017
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has responded:
Theresa May is hiding from the public. She won't take part in TV debates and she won't talk to voters.
What is she afraid of? Voters deserve to know what political parties are offering.
The Conservative Party has not yet responded to a request from The Independent to comment on the accusation that Ms May is “hiding from the public”.
More: The difference between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May in one tweet