Theresa May tight-lipped on role in EU referendum campaign

Theresa May has refused to be drawn on whether she could lead the 'No' campaign ahead of the EU referendum.

The UK is due to vote on its membership of the EU before the end of 2017 and there has been plenty of speculation about the role the Home Secretary could play in the run-up to the vote.

But Mrs May has insisted her focus is currently on David Cameron's negotiations.

She was asked by Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, the Spanish lawyer and wife of Nick Clegg, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Are we going to see for the very first time a woman leading the 'No' campaign in a Brexit referendum in this country?"

Mrs May replied: "My focus is on actually the negotiations that are taking place at the moment."

A laughing Mrs Gonzalez Durantez then told the Home Secretary that she had not answered the question.

"I'm a politician, Miriam," Mrs May said.

Mrs May was also asked if the "little girl" inside her is dreaming about becoming the next Prime Minister.

"She is dreaming of carrying on doing a good job in the Home Office in the role that I am at the moment," she said.

"There is still a lot to do."

Mrs Gonzalez Durantez also asked Mrs May about the controversial speech on immigration she delivered at this year's Conservative Party conference and whether she feels pressure as a woman to try and come across as "tough".

The Home Secretary said: "I don't feel that there is a pressure on to come across as tough and I didn't look at that party conference speech as in that context at all.

"What I said was what I thought was important to say."

Meanwhile, Mrs May, known for her love of shoes, was asked how she felt about the possibility of women being put off pursuing a career in politics because of scrutiny over what they wear.

"I think often what puts some women off is the intrusion into the private life that can come with being in politics but I think there is a wider issue which is about young girls today," she said.

"All too often the sort of images that they are given are images that are about looks rather than about what people have achieved and what people are doing."