New twist in the tale
Andrea Leadsom has announced she has quit the leadership race and has endorsed home secretary Theresa May.
She said: โThe best interests of our country inspired me to stand for our leadership. I believe in leaving the EU a bright future awaits. The referendum result represented a clear desire for change. A nine-week leadership campaign at such a critical point for our country is highly undesirable.
โThe interests of our country are best served from the immediate appointment of a Prime Minister with strong leadershipโฆ I wish Theresa May the very best.โ
The energy minister pulling out of the race leaves only Theresa May as the candidate to be Britainโs next leader. May could be named Tory leader by the end of the day.
The 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady said the body is expected to โformally confirmโ Theresa Mayโs appointment as Conservative Party leader this afternoon.
According to various media reports, Leadsom quit the race after the abuse she got after her comments on motherhood in an article in The Times.
She apologised to Theresa May earlier today for her comments.
The energy minister told the Daily Telegraph: โIโve already said to Theresa how very sorry I am for any hurt I have caused.โ
The BBC reports that Leadsom texted May to apologise later while the latterโs aides said the home secretary was โgratefulโ for the message.
Leadsomโs comments were made in an article in the Times which she said did not fairly represent her views.
She lashing out the paper saying the article โsaid completely the opposite of what I said and believeโ and that the criticism she faced since left her feeling โunder attack, under enormous pressure – it has been shatteringโ.
โI was pressed to say how my children had formed my views. I didnโt want it to be used as an issue,โ she said.
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