Britain is to have its second ever female prime minister after MPs (members of the parliament) Thursday narrowed the Conservative leadership battle to a final two.
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Andrea Leadsom, who’s running second in the all-female race to be the U.K.’s next prime minister, defended her campaign after attracting criticism for comments suggesting that being a mother makes her a better leader. May is considered the front-runner, winning the most votes as Conservative lawmakers whittled down the candidates to two. The victor will replace Prime Minister David Cameron who announced his resignation after Britons voted on June 23 to leave the European Union.
The Times piece claimed Leadsom was “ruthless” in her campaign to be the next prime minister, including in her comments on Theresa May not having children. May, a Remain campaigner with a long track record in government, and Mrs. Leadsom, a leading light of the Brexit campaign who has stressed her City and business background.
Unlike Mrs May, she also campaigned for Britain to leave the European Union, a position supported by the majority of Conservative voters.
Home Secretary Theresa May launches her leadership campaign in London, Britain, June 30, 2016. “That is why I am backing Theresa May”, he said.
Leadsom said she was “very grateful” to her team and “feeling very positive” about the future.
And North Staffordshire Conservatives say whoever wins the election must prepare themselves for some tough negotiating over Brexit.
According to the Times, Mrs Leadsom also 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 awful”. May says she would not push the button to take Britain out of the European Union before the end of 2016, to give time to finalise a negotiating stance.
May and Leadsom will now begin their campaigns to convince the wider Conservative party membership around the country for a final round of voting with the victor set to be declared on September 9.
In a statement made on Saturday morning, Ms Leadsom said she was repeatedly asked about her children but she repeatedly made it clear she “did not want this to be a feature of the campaign”.
The journalist and commentator who conducted the interview, Rachel Sylvester, defended her article, saying she was “baffled” by Leadsom’s reaction.
He urged her to follow Mrs May’s lead and back a clean fight in the race to succeed David Cameron. “She said her kids were a huge part of her life, she also had brothers and sisters”.
Ms Davidson told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “I don’t know Andrea Leadsom very well”.
Leadsom supporter and junior defence minister Penny Mordaunt defended the controversial comments.
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Bookmaker Ladbrokes said May was favorite to become the next Conservative leader and offered 10/1 that Leadsom would withdraw before the end of July.
