Debate Erupts: Is Motherhood an Advantage for UK’s Next PM?

Andrea Leadsom, one of two women in the race to become the next British prime minister, has suggested that being a mom makes her a better pick than her rival Theresa May.

Leadsom said: “I am sure Theresa will be really sad she doesn’t have children so I don’t want this to be “Andrea has children, Theresa hasn’t” because I think that would be really frightful, but genuinely I feel that being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake”.

Andrea Leadsom has been widely criticised on social media for her reaction to the way the Times presented comments she made in an interview.

The energy minister told newspaper that being a mother “means you have a very real stake in the future of our country” but insisted she was not trying to make it an issue in the Tory leadership election. “She possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people, but I have children”.

The comments made in the Times by Leadsom, a devout Christian who wants to swiftly launch the legal process of exiting the European Union and end freedom of movement rights if elected, drew sharp criticism from several Conservative lawmakers. “I believe I – like everybody else – have a very real stake in our country”.

Mrs Leadsom told The Times: “I’m no Ukip sympathiser, they don’t advise me, I don’t know them, I’ve never even met Arron Banks”. No children, but ten nieces and nephews.

Following the release of the recording, Mrs Leadsom made a short statement outside her constitiency home today, in which she called for a “principled and honurable” leadership campaign. Do I not have a stake in the future of the country?

“Many of them do know Theresa May from the joint meetings of interior ministers and foreign ministers we have had in response to dealing with counter-terrorism issues in the European Union”.

May had asked Leadsom to sign a pledge calling for a “clean” campaign.

“She’s a known commodity to them and her reputation goes before her”.

The Tory leadership hopeful has come under fire for her views on LGBT issues, as well as wanting to repeal the fox hunting ban and other issues.

He added: “I’m clear from the people I’ve spoken, party members, to that they want to hear the arguments, they don’t to witness a slanging match, they don’t want to see any more backstabbing”.

Mrs May is yet to comment specifically on Mrs Leadsom’s interview – instead inviting her to sign up to her own “clean campaign pledge’ on Twitter”.

The Times have stood by what was reported, publishing a full transcript of the interview. The quality of the audio wasn’t great – the interview was conducted at a noisy cafe at a train station – but there was no mistaking what Leadsom had said. “I want to be crystal clear that everyone has an equal stake in our society and in the future of our country”, she said. That is what I believe and it is what I have always believed.

Theresa May, who gained more support from Conservative MPs in a vote on Thursday, said she would change freedom of movement rules.