Tory MP says Badenoch too ‘preoccupied with her children’ to lead party

Conservative leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch was accused by Christopher Chope of being ‘too preoccupied with her own children’ to lead the party, though her opponent also has three children. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

A veteran Conservative MP has sparked outrage after saying he would not support Kemi Badenoch to be the Tory party leader because she is “preoccupied with her own children”.

Sir Christopher Chope told ITV News that the frontrunner in his party’s leadership race would be unable to commit to the role of leader of the opposition as she has young children.