Motherhood debate stirs fury in Britain

LONDON — Two Conservative women running to become Britain’s next leader are facing a question that wouldn’t be raised if there were male candidates for the job:

A political storm erupted Saturday when Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom suggested in an interview with the Times of London that her status as a mother gives her an advantage over rival Home Secretary Theresa May, who does not have children.

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.

May is considered the front-runner, winning the most votes as Conservative lawmakers whittled down the candidates to two.

Leadsom’s remarks touched off an uproar among Conservative party members who are voting in the runoff.

The Times shot right back, releasing a voice recording of the key section of the interview.

Sylvester, who noted that Leadsom had talked about being a mother during the EU campaign, told the BBC she was baffled by Leadsom’s reaction to a question about whether motherhood had informed her politics.

The fact that the motherhood discussion is happening at all is a reflection of the intensity of passions and general turmoil that has engulfed British politics since the June 23 vote on EU membership.