Andrea Leadsom could be the Tory version of Jeremy Corbyn, says Priti Patel

'To govern we have got to be able to carry the support of Members of Parliament. That’s incredibly important'

Priti Patel (PA)

Lack of widespread support for Conservative leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom could result in her becoming the party’s equivalent of Jeremy Corbyn, according to a senior Tory minister.

Ms Leadsom, who is standing against Theresa May in a bid to become Prime Minister, has faced criticism from within the party after she suggested being a mother gave her a “very real stake” in the future of the country – unlike Ms May, who has no children.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, employment minister Priti Patel emphasised the need for a candidate with “broad appeal” and cast doubt over Ms Leadsom’s ability to win a general election.

“Look at Labour right now, and the narrow appeal they have,” Ms Patel told the newspaper.

“You win elections by having that broad appeal,” she said. “To govern we have got to be able to carry the support of Members of Parliament. That’s incredibly important.”

Ms Patel, who is in favour of Brexit, said Ms May would be the best person to implement the change due to her “strength and experience”, despite Ms Leadsom’s vocal role in the Leave campaign.

Asked if Ms Leadsom could become a Conservative version of Mr Corbyn, Ms Patel said: “We could end up in that situation. And then it becomes very difficult to govern and deliver the programme for Leave.”

Ms Patel joins a growing backlash from Tory ministers against Ms Leadsom, a junior energy minister who has been in the House of Commons for six years.

Conservative MP Sir Alan Duncan called Ms Leadsom’s motherhood comments as reported in the Times “vile,” while Anna Soubry, minister for small business, industry and enterprise, said the interview “shows Andrea Leadsom is not PM material“.

Ms Leadsom, who has likened herself to Margaret Thatcher, holds traditional Conservative views and has spoken out against gay marriage.

She claimed the Times had misreported her comments and was “disgusted” with the newspaper’s front page on Saturday, which carried the headline ““Being a mother gives me edge on May – Leadsom”.

“Truly appalling and exact opposite of what I said. I am disgusted,” Ms Leadsom wrote on Twitter.