Theresa May declares that she will bounce back from election shambles by vowing to make a better future for Britain’s young people

THERESA May has declared herself a woman on a mission — to build a better future for Britain’s young people.

She aims to bounce back from her election bruising by dedicating herself to improving the life chances of the next generation.

The PM brushed aside her own legacy and vowed to make the under-30s her main focus in whatever time she has left.

In a frank and revealing interview, she said: “I don’t think about how I will be remembered. For me, my job is to make a difference for people here and now. My mission is to build a better future for everyone — and I intend to show we can do it.”

Mrs May will use the Tory conference this week to offer more hope and opportunity to the young and disadvantaged. She will challenge buoyant Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn head-on for the youth vote. That means action to cut student debt, create better-paid jobs and help them get a foot on the housing ladder.

With a defiant glint in her eye, she revealed: “What you’ll see from us are real ways in which we can deliver for people.

“Last week the Labour party made promise after promise — just like they did at the election — with no idea how to pay for them. We can show that we’re making a difference and will build on that.”

Mrs May travelled to the Manchester rally last night. She was ready to renew the pledge she made on the steps of Downing Street on the day she took office — to build “a Britain that works for everyone”.

In a candid interview with The Sun on Sunday, she openly admitted losing sight of that quest during June’s shambolic election — a lapse that cost her Commons majority.

As if to remind her, a framed copy of that 629-word mission statement now hangs in her study at No 10.

The PM has spent just 445 turbulent days in office and it is clear she knows her days are numbered.

But her dedication is paramount and she is determined to make her mark before she bows out.

Mrs May, 61 today and the youngest of the three main party leaders, wants to be a champion for youth.

She insisted: “I am not a quitter and I’m in this for the long term because there is a job to be done.

“One of the key things that drives me is wanting to see a country where people can get on according to their talents and hard work, not where they’ve come from.

“I don’t think that message came across well enough during the election campaign. But it is the mission of the Government and it remains the mission of the Government.

“It does worry me that we have a generation of young people who fear that in their future they’ll be worse off than their parents. So I will be focusing more on how we are delivering on that mission for people.”

Mrs May accepts that her attention has been dominated by our EU divorce but insisted that is no excuse for neglecting bread and butter issues.

She explained: “When people voted for Brexit, they also voted for change in the country. That’s what our conference will be about — recognising the need for change and looking at how we can deliver it.”

The PM says she has learnt many lessons from the election campaign in which Mr Corbyn achieved cult-like status among young voters.

But she is in a position to do something for Britain’s youth now — and she intends to broaden Tory appeal this week.

She said: “There are a lot of young people who fear they’ll be worse off than their parents.

“One lesson of the election is that we didn’t sufficiently show young people our concern on the issues that matter to them.

“Buying a home is difficult for so many young people now, so we need to do more by building more housing and helping support people who rent and want to buy.

“Students are also a key concern. We’ve got great universities but people feel there are problems with debts that students build up.

“We shall look again at the whole question of funding and of student finance. While we do that, we’ll freeze the fee rate and raise the threshold for repayment, which will put money into graduates’ pockets.”

She said the key was to create a balanced economy with low taxes for working people, investing in public services and creating better-paid, higher-skilled jobs.

Sitting in her No 10 den, Mrs May spoke of her intense patriotism, love of our national traditions and confidence of making Brexit a success.

She said: “The great thing about our country is its people — hard- working, tolerant, innovative, creative and with an indomitable spirit.

“That’s why I am optimistic about Brexit. We have strong fundamentals in our economy.

“We have in the British people those who will grasp those opportunities and have the capacity and capability to go out there and say, ‘This is a great country. Let’s make it even better’.”

She said she is still working for a good Brexit deal — but is preparing for all options including a no deal.

She gets on “well” with German Chancellor Angela Merkel but will be talking to the other 26 EU leaders throughout the process.

Mrs May admits the past few months have been tough but the criticism has made her stronger.

She said: “I read all sorts of things about myself. But the worst was when a newspaper did a spread on how now to dress when you’re over 50 — and it was full of pictures of me.”

The PM insists she is now prepared for what’s to come. She recalled her summer walking holiday in Switzerland when she and husband Philip stopped for lunch at a quiet restaurant in the mountains.

She said: “Another British couple came in and sat next to us.

“They chatted about where we’d been walking and so on. Then a second couple from England asked to take a selfie with us.

“Then a third couple came along and started to have a go about immigration.

“I was thinking, ‘Please. I’m on holiday. Give me a break!’”

What makes Mrs May happy? “Cooking, walking, just being able to sit and chat to Philip. I would say normal life really.” But is she ready to return to normal life?

Unflinching, she says: “There’s a lot of work to be done and I fully intend to get on with it.”