to think that Andrea Leadsom should not be prime minister?

[sorbetandcream1]

She is against gay marriage.
She has hugely exaggerated aspects of her CV numerous times in the past (she lied).
She has said some awful comments relating to Theresa May, indicating that Andrea will be a better pm because shes a mum.
She seems to have incredibly strong, extreme Christian views. I very much doubt she can fairly represent the views of the country.
She just to be a strong supporter of remain campaign but changed her mind for this election. Unclear why.
She can't win, can she?

[bakeoffcake]

I'm so glad she's gone, what's a relief!

Her silly comments really showed she didn't have the ability to run a country.

[53rdAndBird]

I seem to remember Labour forcing a Brown PM on us without a single vote being cast. The tories are a lot more democratic, which will be good for the country.

You were saying?

[BMW6]

She was made to open her mouth and put her foot in it? Was she drugged or hypnotised?

[ilovesooty]

I think it's been very carefully orchestrated. I don't believe there was ever any intention of her running against May at this time.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I wonder who handed her the hemlock? I don't believe this was her own decision.

[LauderSyme]

sorbet Indeed.
Though I would say that AL's position as a potential leader had become so laughably untenable as to make her guts rather irrelevant.
So, Theresa as PM. Am pleased we have a woman at the top.
A lot of people seem to think she is qualified for these turbulent times. I am possibly amongst them, though I shall never vote for her.

[sorbetandcream1]

What a relief. :-). Maybe Andrea read this thread. I don't for one minute think Theresa is perfect but in my mind she is infinitely more suited to the role of pm than Andrea. Takes guts to drop out of something like this.

[ChillieJeanie]

This includes audio of part of the interview. The initial question was "What do you think is the main difference between you and Theresa?" to which Leadsom gave a two-part answer, the second part of which was going on about being "a huge member of a huge family", mentioning her kids and then saying this makes her "grounded and normal". The question about being a mum was a follow up question to what Leadsom had said completely unprompted.

[ThisPanCanCan]

The Revenge From Beyond The Grave Of The Monster Raving Loony Party.

[WaxyBean]

She's widely viewed as the worst economic secretary to the treasury in recent years. I can't quite believe she is in this position - politics is absolutely bonkers at the moment....

[peachpudding]

AL is a right wing Corbyn. As a conservative I am pretty sure the party members aren't stupid enough to vote for her, I expect it will be a TM landslide.
Cameron wanted to reinstate fox hunting but didn't because he knew he couldn't. Again, party members know that and it won't be an issue in this election. AL is stupid to pledge something she can't deliver.

I seem to remember Labour forcing a Brown PM on us without a single vote being cast. The tories are a lot more democratic, which will be good for the country.

[JudyCoolibar]

Self-evidently this is not papers spinning against her, the transcript demonstrates that. And she can't get out of by saying "The nasty reporter made me" considering she is the one who keeps wittering on about her beliefs "as a mum". If you don't want to be questioned about why you keep going on about the fact that you're a mum, then don't bloody keep going on about it.

[YellowPrimula]

I really couldn't stand her during the referendum campaign , I wanted to slap her everytime she said ' as a mother' I wanted to slap her. I cannot believe that she could end up as PM , we need someone with proven ability.

[LarrytheCucumber]

My MP backs Leadsum. He is one of the Gang of three in north Northamptonshire who were founder members of Brexit
I agree Scarlets she lacks gravitas, and will be eaten alive in Brussels.

[MarshaBrady]

Those mother comments were truly awful, she sounds awful. New lows, quite something.

[scarlets]

I wasn't keen on her at all, I found her illiberal, and felt that she lacked gravitas. Her recent comments about childlessness has turned me off her even more. I'm for TM. My MP is backing her too.

[LarrytheCucumber]

True Andrew.

[Mondrian]

At times like this you want technocrats in charge & not politicians, neither term applies to her.

[Andrewofgg]

The odd thing is that Angela Merkel's nickname in German politics and the German press is Mutti - Mummy. The electorate there seem to go back to her for comfort.

[LarrytheCucumber]

Sorry, Angela Merkel.

[LarrytheCucumber]

Angelaerkel hasn't got children either, but what has that got to do with anything?

[ABloodyDifficultWoman]

Andrea Leadsom is exactly the sort of smiling, thin-lipped passively aggressive bitchy woman that I despise. Have we not all met at least one of these in our lives? I know I have. They smile and virtually pat your head and tell you how lovely you look and isn't it marvellous that they do clothes for people like you these days - that sort of thing That's what she's done with the TM/Children thing. Hideous, ghastly and undermining.

[bakeoffcake]

It's the way she says at the end "I've got chiiiiildren". It's so bloody condescending.

I wish the vote was sooner, we need a new PM in place before September. Mind you, I expect they'll all be on their long holidays anyway while we, the plebs, worry about our country's future .

[user1467101855]

Is no-one else concerned that this is one of the Murdoch papers spinning against her? (The Times is supporting May)

I've listened to the transcript and this isn't spin. She said it, she meant it, and now she's trying to wriggle out of it. It's not the first time either.

[iMatter]

I listened to the transcript on R4 this morning and the way AL brought the subject up was particularly poisonous and disingenuous.

A bit like when people say "I don't mean to be offensive but..." and then go on to be incredibly offensive.

Perhaps AL should have been more honest and said "I don't mean to be an utter bitch but..."