Andrea Leadsom 'to pull out of Tory leadership election'

Candidate earlier said she felt she was “under attack, under enormous pressure”

Andrea Leadsom is reportedly set to drop out of the Conservative leadership race in an announcement at noon, clearing the way for Theresa May to be named Britain's next Prime Minister.

She is expected to make a statement 12.15.

It follows a torrid week for the Tory leadership contender who came under attack from senior Conservative colleagues for her incendiary comments on Theresa May’s childlessness. In an interview this morning Ms Leadsom said that she felt she was “under attack, under enormous pressure”.

There are suggestions, however, that the party would need to find an alternative to Ms Leadsom to allow the 150,000 party members a proper choice.

The junior energy minister, who was a vocal campaigner and voice in the Leave campaign during the European Union referendum, was hedging her bets in the contest on her “outsider” status.

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