THERESA May – who led the country through the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury in March 2018 – is set to return to the city next week.

MP Ms May (Con, Maidenhead) will be at the Guildhall on Monday (March 11) evening giving a talk on her time in office, including the poisonings, as well as on politics in general.

She was Prime Minister for three years and Home Secretary for six, tackling issues including immigration, Brexit and the poisonings in Salisbury of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Dawn Sturgess, who sprayed Novichok on her wrist believing it to be perfume, died in July 2018 after the botched assassination attempt.

Ms May’s visit comes after the release of her book, The Abuse of Power: Confronting Injustice in Public Life, last September.

In it, she discusses abuses of power which led to devastating results for individuals and significantly damaged the reputation of, and trust in, public institutions and politicians.

In Salisbury, she will give an inside the room account of several cases in domestic and international affairs where blatant abuses took place – including the Salisbury poisonings.

“Theresa May’s dedication to public service, unwavering patriotism, and integrity have been an inspiration to many,” said Edward Bickham, trustee of The Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, which has organised the talk.

“It’s a privilege to welcome her back to Salisbury.”

Theresa May became Prime Minister after the EU Referendum in 2016

After studying geography at Oxford, Ms May worked in finance and banking before entering the political arena, first as a Merton councillor and then as Member of Parliament for Maidenhead.

She served in the Shadow Cabinet under four Party leaders until becoming Home Secretary in David Cameron’s Government in 2010.

She became leader of the party and the UK’s second female Prime Minister in 2016, following Mr Cameron’s resignation in the wake of the EU Referendum.

Following the 2018 Novichok poisoning, she visited Salisbury to express solidarity with the community, meet with emergency responders, and to condemn the attack, returning several times in the following months.

Since stepping down as Prime Minister in 2019, Theresa May has maintained an active role in Parliament.

A drinks reception at Arudnells will get underway at 7pm, followed by a talk at 7.30pm at The Guildhall. Tickets cost £25, to include a glass of wine.