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Andrea Leadsom apologises to Theresa May over motherhood comments row Andrea Leadsom apologises to Theresa May over motherhood comments row
(about 7 hours later)
Andrea Leadsom has apologised to Theresa May "for any hurt I have caused" after the row over comments which appeared to suggest being a mother gave her an advantage as a potential prime minister. Andrea Leadsom has apologised to Theresa May “for any hurt I have caused” after a row over her incendiary comments which appeared to suggest being a mother gave her an advantage as a potential prime minister.
The Energy Minister insisted that she did not want motherhood to play a part in the campaign and "deeply regret that anyone has got the impression that I think otherwise". The junior energy minister, who was criticised by senior Conservative politicians for her “vile” and “insulting” comments, insisted that she did not want motherhood to play a role in the leadership campaign and “deeply regret that anyone has got the impress that I think otherwise”. 
Mrs Leadsom said she had felt "under attack" since the row over her comments, which were branded "vile" by one senior Tory MP while a fellow minister said it showed she was unsuitable for Number 10. Ms Leadsom added that she felt “under attack” since the row, which fellow minister Anna Soubry said showed she was unsuitable for Downing Street. The interview was published just hours after the Home Secretary had pledged to fight a “clean campaign” and urged her rival to “do the same”.
In an interview with The Times, Mrs Leadsom said: "Genuinely I feel that being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake." The mother of three was asked in an interview with The Times whether she felt “like a mum in politics”.
The Home Secretary has previously spoken about how she and husband Philip were affected by being unable to have children. “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 responded. 
Mrs Leadsom told the Daily Telegraph she believed that having children has "no bearing on the ability to be PM". “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.
"I absolutely said, what I specifically said, is that motherhood should not play a part in the campaign," she said. Just last week Ms May had spoken about how her and her husband, Philip, were affected by being unable to have children. Ms May told said she likes to keep her “personal life personal” but says that she and her husband “dealt with” the fact they couldn't have children and “moved on”.
"I was pressed to say how my children had formed my views. I didn't want it to be used as an issue. Having children has no bearing on the ability to be PM. I deeply regret that anyone has got the impression that I think otherwise." Conservative MP Sir Alan Duncan, responding to the comments, said: “I'm gay and in a civil partnership. No children, but 10 nieces and nephews. Do I not have a stake in the future of the country? Vile.”  
And Sam Gyimah, another Tory MP, added: “Wrong and insulting for Leadsom to say those who are childless care less about the future. Being a parent doesn’t qualify you to be PM."
But Ms Leadsom, following the row, told the Daily Telegraph that she believed that having children has “no bearing on the ability to be PM”.“I absolutely said, what I specifically said, is that motherhood should not play a part in the campaign," she said.
“I was pressed to say how my children had formed my views. I didn't want it to be used as an issue. Having children has no bearing on the ability to be PM. I deeply regret that anyone has got the impression that I think otherwise.”
Asked if she would apologise to Mrs May she said: "I've already said to Theresa how very sorry I am for any hurt I have caused and how that article said completely the opposite of what I said and believe."Asked if she would apologise to Mrs May she said: "I've already said to Theresa how very sorry I am for any hurt I have caused and how that article said completely the opposite of what I said and believe."
Mrs Leadsom said she felt "under attack, under enormous pressure. It has been shattering".Mrs Leadsom said she felt "under attack, under enormous pressure. It has been shattering".
In the wake of her Times interview, business minister Anna Soubry said Mrs Leadsom's comments meant she was "not PM material" while Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said there was a "gulf in class" between the two candidates and senior MP Sir Alan Duncan said the energy minister's remarks were "vile".
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".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".