Probably a good reason to consider what she says before saying it to journalists or people with recorders or cameras.

What she said about being a Mother may go down well with Mumsnet or mum's in general in marginals for GE's but isn't wise in appealing to politically analytical Tory members.

It's making me wonder what else she's going to say or will come out in the coming weeks. Will her tax returns be too shady to be PM?

We'll end up with May who will go lighter on what she says she intends to do after the tory membership ditch Leadsome who is more likely to try and deliver what she intends.

COYP

If the answer is Theresa May, how stupid must the f***ing question be?

"It's not the bullet that's got my name on it that concerns me; it's all them other ones flyin' around marked 'To Whom It May Concern.'"

I never thought I would be rooting for Teresa May to be a pencil monitor, never mind PM.

My only thought is that maybe the Tory party is 'doing a Corbyn' and electing Leadsom simply to ensure a complete paralysis of government.

This could of course mean that no one would ever trigger Article 50, so every cloud has a silver lining!

We are living in a mad world of politics.

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand!

My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right.

(Member of the School of Optimism 1969-2016 inclusive)

Yes, they were, and I stand by them. The clarification you are trying to refer to was in regard to my 'coming from nothing' comment.

Leadsom is seeking to make political capital from the fact that someone managed to make her pregnant, which apparently confers great powers upon her and immediately raises her above the level of someone who has not had children. To make such statements reveals one to be 'opportunistic scum'.

Political leadership contests always involve plenty of dirt being dug up and liberally thrown about. Leadsom's comments about May not having children were probably a (backfired) attempt to do this- to appeal to those Conservative, family values types- 'she's a woman past child bearing age, who doesn't have kids- something must be wrong/dodgy about her...'

It's going to get much worse, no doubt. Leadsom should stick to May's (not exactly stellar) tenure at the Home Office. May has almost too much to choose from in the other direction- former banker, dodgy CV, dodgy taxes...

At the end of the day, we will end up with a new PM voted for by 0.2% of the population. Depressing.

New Tory PM will find herself in a similar situation to Gordon Brown- PM having never won a general election. Brown should have held a GE, which might have bought him a few years to ride out the economic crash.

A GE held immediately after May/Leadsom get in would be fraught with danger- probably see a UKIP surge, Labour in turmoil... no guarantee the Tories would keep their (fairly slim) majority. On the other hand, waiting is likely to mean fighting an election in 2020 on the back of an economic downturn (at best), further austerity, and potentially a united Labour.

We live in interesting times - in the worst possible way.

PM elect in all but name now

[Link]

Leadsom pulling out because she can't stand the "abuse".

So we will be lead by a "Remainer" (even if she was only a reluctant remainer in the first place)

"It's almost like a moral decision. Except not really cos noone is going to find out," Jez, Peep Show