The Times newspaper has published an extract from its interview with Tory leadership contender Andrea Leadsom that sparked a major row over how her comments on motherhood and her rival Theresa May were reported.
Interviewer: During the debates you repeatedly said as a mum. Do you feel like a mum in politics?
Mrs Leadsom: "Yes. 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 horrible but genuinely I feel that being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake.
@BethRigby Your followers looking for the audio of Leadsom can find it here: https://t.co/4wV3KftN9t
— Scott Silbereis (@ScottInBristol) July 9, 2016
Truly appalling and the exact opposite of what I said. I am disgusted. https://t.co/DPFzjNmKie
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) July 8, 2016
Yesterday, I launched my clean campaign pledge, and invite @AndreaLeadsom to join me in signing it -TM pic.twitter.com/jaC3hP34N4
— Theresa May (@TheresaMay2016) July 9, 2016
“She possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people, but I have children who are going to have children who will directly be a part of what happens next.”
Interviewer: “So it really keeps you focussed on what are you really saying?”
Mrs Leadsom: “It means you don’t want a downturn but never mind ten years hence it will all be fine, my children will be starting their lives in that next ten years so I have a real stake in the next year, the next two.”
PA