A senior Conservative MP has sparked controversy after stating that he would not support Kemi Badenoch for Tory party leader because she is “preoccupied with her own children.”
Sir Christopher Chope told ITV News that Badenoch, a frontrunner in the leadership race, would struggle to commit fully to the role of opposition leader due to her responsibilities as a mother of young children. Instead, Chope voiced his support for her opponent, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, explaining, “I myself am supporting Robert Jenrick because I think he’s brought more energy and commitment to the campaign, and being leader of the opposition is a really demanding job. Much as I like Kemi, I think she’s preoccupied with her own children, quite understandably. I think Robert’s children are a bit older, and I think it’s important that whoever leads the opposition has got an immense amount of time and energy.”
