Tory leadership candidate sparks fresh row over ‘motherhood’ comments

A row has erupted after Conservative leadership candidate, Andrea Leadsom, was accused of suggesting that having children made her a better choice to be prime minister.

In a conversation with The Times, Mrs Leadsom suggested that having children gave her “a very real stake” in Britain’s future.

The article headlined: “Being a mother gives me edge of May – Leadsom” quoted the energy minister as saying Mrs May “possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people. But I have children who are going to have children who will directly be part of what happens next”.

Foll0wing the interview, Mrs Leadsom said she had been “disgusted” at the way in which Times journalist, Rachel Sylvester, had presented the interview.

She went on to say: “In the course of a lengthy interview yesterday, I was repeatedly asked about my children and I repeatedly made it clear that I did not want this in any way a feature of the campaign.”

However, Ms Sylvester has defended her article, commenting that Mrs Leadsom’s reaction had “baffled” her.

Mrs May, who has no children, tweeted following the comments that she would be launching a “clean campaign” pledge and invited Mrs Leadsom “to join me in signing it”.