In comments that were strongly denounced by some fellow Tories, Leadsom told the Times in an interview that being a mother was an advantage in the election because it showed that she had a “a very real stake” in the future of the country.
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But Mrs Leadsom’s key supporter Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, claimed she is facing a “black-ops” campaign by MPs who want to “denigrate her reputation”.
The leadership contest was triggered when Mr Cameron announced he was stepping down in the wake of June’s vote to leave the European Union. I think she said it was something to do with her faith.
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.
She also said May “possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people”. I’m godfather to Andrea’s eldest son, her children are the things that fire her up.
“Over the course of a lengthy interview I was repeatedly asked about my children and I repeatedly made it clear that I did not want this to be a feature of the campaign”.
Mrs Leadsom told ITV News: ” I would have preferred for civil partnerships to be available to heterosexual and gay couples and for marriage to have remained as a Christian service that was for men and women who wanted to commit in the eyes of God”. The next prime minister – what matters is what they are going to do for every child in this country.
“She is fired up, what makes her passionate in politics is her children and her family, since when has it been a crime to be proud about your children and today we just heard Andy Murray saying what fires him up is his children, so is he being critical of other tennis players as well?”
“I expect the Times to retract the article and the accompanying headline”.
It comes as Mrs May was described as a “steely” and a “bloody hard woman” by her opponents last week.
Theresa May will promise to put workers on the boards of major companies and curb excess corporate pay as she sets out her plan for a Britain that “works for everyone – not just the privileged few”.
Councillor Banks, who voted to leave the European Union, said: “We should stand firm for our sovereignty”.
The Scottish Conservative leader said: ” Serious times call for serious people and Theresa is a proper grown up who will assess all the evidence before making a decision.
She added in an article for The Times previewing the speech: “We need an economy that works for everyone”.
Leadsom’s supporters have come out in her defence.
In the recording released by The Times of London, Leadsom says she is sure May “will be really, really sad that she doesn’t have children, so I don’t want this to be “Andrea has got children, Theresa hasn’t” – do you know what I mean – because I think that would be really frightful”.
Theresa May, who gained more support from Conservative lawmakers in a vote on Thursday, said she would change freedom of movement rules.
“How could you?” she asked on her Twitter feed, directing her remarks to Times reporter Rachel Sylvester.
Mrs May has urged her to sign up to a “clean campaign pledge” which includes a commitment not to co-operate with rival parties.
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Mrs Leadsom has said she has “no allegiance” to UKIP. The contest now moves to the party’s 150,000 grassroots members, who will elect the victor by September 9.
