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Europe

UK Conservative candidate apologizes over motherhood remarks

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Conservative leadership contender Andrea Leadsom, issues a statement outside her home in Northamptonshire, England, after a newspaper suggested she was using her status as a mother to gain an advantage over leadership rival Theresa May, Saturday July 9, 2016. According to an interview published Saturday July 9, 2016, in The Times national newspaper, Andrea Leadsom suggested that her status as a mother means, "I have a very real stake in the future of our country", and rival Theresa May does not have children. (Chris Radburn / PA via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this two photo combo, showing the two contenders to become the leader of the Conservative Party and assume the post of Britain's Prime Minister, with Theresa May, left, dated July 5, 2016, and Andrea Leadsom, right, dated July 4, 2016. Andrea Leadsom suggested in an interview published Saturday July 9, 2016, in national newspaper The Times, that her status as a mother gives her an advantage over rival Theresa May, who does not have children. (AP Photos / Matt Dunham, FILE combo) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE- In this file photo dated Monday, July 4, 2016, Andrea Leadsom during the launch of her bid to become the Conservative Party leader in London, Monday, July 4, 2016. Andrea Leadsom announced Monday July 11, 2016, she is withdrawing from the race for party leadership and assume the position as Britain's Prime Minister, seemingly leaving Theresa May as the sole candidate. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, FILE) (The Associated Press)

LONDON – A Conservative candidate for British prime minister has apologized for any hurt she might have caused her rival over comments that suggested being a mother was an advantage in the job.

Andrea Leadsom said sorry to Theresa May, who has no children, amid the uproar touched off by her Times of London interview on Saturday. Leadsom insisted she didn't want motherhood to be part of the campaign and offered regret for anyone who might have thought otherwise.

The two women are in a runoff to replace Prime Minister David Cameron, who is resigning after British voters rejected his advice and chose to leave the European Union.

Leadsom told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that she believed that having children has "no bearing on the ability to be PM."

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