Leadsom/UKIP.

[floo]

What she meant though, from what I can gather, is she has children and is thinking of their future and Theresa May, although she doesn't have children, has nieces and nephews.... so will also care about their future. It's just newspapers trying to make something out of nothing.... to sell papers and cause upset..... it's their job!

The unpleasant woman clearly tried to play a bit of one-upmanship because she had kids!

[Brownie]

I heard that and found it irrelevant and unpleasant. Funny when you think she was an unknown quantity before she decided to 'stand', same for Mr Crabbe who is now 'sitting'.

[floo]

In a PM we need someone who can stand on the world stage and  know what they are doing. I think May would fit the bill, but certainly not Leadsom. She is far too inexperienced and keeps making silly gaffs.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The unpleasant woman clearly tried to play a bit of one-upmanship because she had kids!

A rookie error or a calculated retreat having finally realised what a turd Brexit is?

[Brownie]

The latter, she will withdraw by gradual excrements.

[floo]

The latter, she will withdraw by gradual excrements.

Nice one!

[Hope]

What she meant though, from what I can gather, is she has children and is thinking of their future and Theresa May, although she doesn't have children, has nieces and nephews.... so will also care about their future. It's just newspapers trying to make something out of nothing.... to sell papers and cause upset..... it's their job!

If that s what she meant, perhaps sho ought to have said what she meant, not something else that The Times journalist nterviewing her has faithfully reported.  Perhaps, she ought to have steered clear of comparing herself with Theresa on this particular point in the first place: she didn't need to answer the journalist's question in the way she did.

[Hope]

I heard that and found it irrelevant and unpleasant. Funny when you think she was an unknown quantity before she decided to 'stand', same for Mr Crabbe who is now 'sitting'.

Except that Mr Crabb was and remains a pretty important member of the Cabinet, first as Secretary of State for Wales and currently as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  Mrs Leadsom doesn't even have that to fasll back on - she is, currently, Minister of State of Energy (not a post that carries Cabinet responsibity).

[Jack Knave]

What she meant though, from what I can gather, is she has children and is thinking of their future and Theresa May, although she doesn't have children, has nieces and nephews.... so will also care about their future. It's just newspapers trying to make something out of nothing.... to sell papers and cause upset..... it's their job!

I'm in favour of Leadsom being PM because of her full Brexit views but this comment was naïve and crass and shows her inexperience in dealing with the media. From what I've heard of the tape recording she trod straight into it. One would hope that some of her colleagues with more experience of the political world will give her a fast track lesson in being a top politician. 

[Brownie]

The first time I saw him, Hope, was on Question Time, not that long ago.  So he wasn't all that familiar to me.  He came over very well on QT I must say.  Next time I saw him it was when it was announced he was going to stand for leader.

Yes, you are right about Leadsom.

--------------

Further to the discussions that have arisen after Andrea Leadsom talked about the advantages of her having children in contrast to Theresa May, that very subject was debated thoroughly on the radio earlier on.  It was quite good to listen to people talking about the issue and giving different opinions with sound reasons to back them up.

After listening I thought, and had probably always thought, forget the children, concentrate on whether or not the person can do the job.  No-one would say any of that about a male candidate.

[Jack Knave]

If that s what she meant, perhaps sho ought to have said what she meant, not something else that The Times journalist nterviewing her has faithfully reported.  Perhaps, she ought to have steered clear of comparing herself with Theresa on this particular point in the first place: she didn't need to answer the journalist's question in the way she did.

I think the factors here are that she's a Christian; and I think she abstained from the gay marriage vote so places her in that conservative side of Christianity. And the other point is that many of the Tory membership are of this kind of ilk or mind set and so she was playing to them. I wonder who is her campaign manager?

[Spud]

I couldn't hear much when I listened to the interview recording. But on reading a transcript of it, it is clear that the interviewer brought up the subject of her family, and Andrea answered honestly, saying she didn't want to make an issue out of Theresa  not having children. Gutter journalism is absolutely the right description. The Times has always been anti-brexit, and clearly was trying to make Leadsom look bad.

[Gordon]

The Times has always been anti-brexit, and clearly was trying to make Leadsom look bad.

Seems to me, if that was their intent, they were pushing at an open door.

[Brownie]

Gutter journalism is absolutely the right description.

Too right but opinions of her are not based solely on one issue.

[Spud]

Seems to me, if that was their intent, they were pushing at an open door.

It's about stopping her getting in because they know she'll trigger article 50 straight away. And maybe more.

[Gordon]

It's about stopping her getting in because they know she'll trigger article 50 straight away. And maybe more.

I think it is more that in PM terms she is a relative nonentity - still, let us us hope the Tory hoi-polloi vote for her: thereby adding to the reasons why Scotland should ditch the UK.

[Nearly Sane]

I couldn't hear much when I listened to the interview recording. But on reading a transcript of it, it is clear that the interviewer brought up the subject of her family, and Andrea answered honestly, saying she didn't want to make an issue out of Theresa  not having children. Gutter journalism is absolutely the right description. The Times has always been anti-brexit, and clearly was trying to make Leadsom look bad.

except reading the transcript, she does make an issue of it.

[Udayana]

I couldn't hear much when I listened to the interview recording. But on reading a transcript of it, it is clear that the interviewer brought up the subject of her family, and Andrea answered honestly, saying she didn't want to make an issue out of Theresa  not having children. Gutter journalism is absolutely the right description. The Times has always been anti-brexit, and clearly was trying to make Leadsom look bad.

The Sunday Times was for Remain, but the Times was for Leave.

[SweetPea]

It's a difficult one because we have never been in this position before - having to negotiate leaving the EU. So, Theresa May has long-term government and cabinet experience on her side whereas Andrea Leadsom is a relative newbie and has no cabinet experience; but she does have experience, and more experience of the EU than any other senior tory minister. Andrea would trigger Article 50 straightaway but Theresa could well delay the action. It's imperative that we get it right re leaving the EU and all that that entails.

I'd say Theresa will win the final vote, but here's hoping she has Andrea well on board for these crucial negotiations.   

[Nearly Sane]

Evidence of Andrea leadsom's experience of the EU?

[Udayana]

... and any negotiating skills?

[SweetPea]

Evidence of Andrea leadsom's experience of the EU?

Her 'Fresh Start' programmes, where her negotiating skills may have been required.

[Nearly Sane]

Her 'Fresh Start' programmes, where her negotiating skills may have been required.

So 'may' is now more experience than any other Tory minister? Tell me your comparative methodology that lead to your categorical statement that she has more experience than any other Tory (junior as she is) minister?

[Nearly Sane]

And 'Fresh Start' is not a programme, at best it's a think tank, and appears to have no negotiations with the EU or indeed chance of negotiation with EU. Can you cover why this gives her this greater experience of the EU than any Tory minister?

[Spud]

I think it is more that in PM terms she is a relative nonentity - still, let us us hope the Tory hoi-polloi vote for her: thereby adding to the reasons why Scotland should ditch the UK.

You want to dig a ditch? Between England and Scotland? I think a hedge would look better