Newspaper publishes transcript of Leadsom interview

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.

“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