I’ve lived there for 80 per cent of my life. Everyone working in service here from the hotel front desk to the housekeeping and waiters is an immigrant so what the hell is the plan?” – to the reality of life in the ‘flyover states’: “I was born and raised among these people. Warm, charismatic and considered, her answers are as precise as her prose, and as wide-ranging taking in everything from Brexit – “If it actually happens the UK will collapse. Meeting her in person it’s easy to see why. At the end the rapt audience gave Gay a standing ovation. A packed event earlier this week in London’s Southbank Centre managed to be both electric in its anticipation and intensely personal in delivery. Such clear-eyed honesty has won her fans from all ages and backgrounds.
