Theresa May is planting her flag on the centre ground with a manifesto to horrify the Tory right
The Prime Minister says there is no such thing as Mayism, but her programme for government is a bold break with the past
THERESA May insisted at her Halifax manifesto launch that there was no political ideology called Mayism - but then she would say that.
When pushed she hit back: "There is no Mayism, just is good solid Conservatism that puts interests of the country and hard working people at the heart of everything we do."
But despite all her claims that her blueprint for Britain is a fundamentally Conservative document, there is plenty here that will make the traditionally Tory right balk.
It would be easy to say the blueprint is actually more of a red print - massive intervention in the market, big spending commitments, and an end to promises not to raise taxes if need be.
Ed Miliband wouldn't have dreamed of going that far.
But it's deeper than that - it would appear Theresa May is ripping up the rule book in her bid to firmly cement the Tories on the centre ground and put herself on the side of the public over the "elites of Westminster".
"True Conservatism means a commitment to the country and community," she writes.
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When she said she sees "rigid dogma and ideology not just as needless but dangerous" she is not just attacking Labour but talking to her own backbenchers too.
Likewise when she says we must "embrace the mainstream view that recognises the good that government can do" - so much for Maggie Thatcher's "no such thing as society."
The Prime Minister also says that the election could go either way - but today proved that is nonsense.
If she was really worried about losing, Mrs May would not have made such an unsubtle and ballsy grab for Labour votes and risk hitting her more traditional true blue supporters where it really hurts - in their wallets.
Theresa May may insist there is is no such thing as Mayism but when the historians come to look back at her time in office and her philosophy, this document will be a pretty good place to start.