How old is Andrea Leadsom, when did she become Leader of the House of Commons and what did she say about Toby Young?
Mrs Leadsom found herself in the running to become Prime Minister just six years after being elected as an MP
ANDREA Leadsom has triggered the resignation of Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon after the 65-year-old allegedly made lewd sexual comments towards her.
Mrs Leadsom, a former banker, rose quickly through the ranks of the Conservative Party after first being elected as an MP in 2010 and found herself in the running to become Prime Minister following the resignation of David Cameron in 2016.
Who is Andrea Leadsom?
Andrea Leadsom was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in May 1963 and attended Tonbridge Girls' Grammar School.
She graduated with a 2:2 in Political Science from the University of Warwick in 1987.
Mrs Leadsom then began a career in the financial sector with an investment bank division of Barclays Bank.
She later claimed to have been a Director at the bank but later admitted she had only served as Deputy Director.
Her political career began when she was elected a councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council in 2003.
In 2010, she was elected as MP of the newly-created South Northamptonshire constituency.
In June 2019 Mrs Leadsom admitted to smoking cannabis at university following Michael Gove's cocaine confession.
She made the admission as other Conservative leader hopefuls opened up about their illegal drug use with three admitting to taking class A substances.
She said: "Everyone is entitled to a private life before becoming an MP. I smoked weed at university and have never smoked it again since."
Why did Andrea Leadsom pull out of the Conservative leadership campaign in 2016?
After rising through the ranks of the Conservative party, Mrs Leadsom was Minister of State for Energy when David Cameron resigned as Prime Minister following the Brexit vote.
She put herself forward for the Tory leadership campaign, pitching herself as a candidate with experience of the "real world".
The 53-year-old won the backing of 84MPs and reached the final stage of the leadership ballot.
She was seen as a strong pro-Brexit candidate after becoming a leading light in the Leave campaign.
But she pulled out of the contest with Theresa May after an interview with The Times in which she said, unlike Mrs May, she had a "stake" in the future of the country as she is a mother.
Two days after the comments, she announced she would be standing down as a candidate after being left "shattered" by criticism of her comments.
When did she become Leader of the House of Commons?
Mrs Leadsom was made leader of the House of Commons on 11 June 2017 following the snap general election.
The subsequent reshuffle saw her moved from the post Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs where she was replaced by Michael Gove.
Mrs Leadsom retained the position following Theresa May's January 2018 reshuffle.
What did she say about Toby Young?
Andrea Leadsom confronted the PM over the appointment of journalist and education campaigner Toby Young to the universities watchdog.
A source close to Mrs Leadsom confirmed she had found Mr Young’s comments “unacceptable”.
The news came as she confirmed sex pest MPs could be kicked out of the Commons if they harass women.
Leadsom vowed that a new regulator will have "teeth" and will be able to impose tough punishments on pervy politicians.
What did she accuse Sir Michael Fallen of before his resignation as Defence Secretary?
Sir Michael Fallon was forced to quit his job as Defence Secretary after he is said to have made sexual comments towards Mrs Leadsom.
He allegedly told her, after she complained of having cold hands, “I know where you can put them to warm them up”.
Sir Michael was reported to No10 by the Commons Leader, who accused him of a string of offensive remarks.
After delivering a dossier to Downing Street, Mrs Leadsom insisted he must go.
A source close to Sir Michael said: “He categorically denies saying something as appalling as he knows where she could warm her hands.”
Allies of Sir Michael Fallon were said to be “seething” with his colleague Andrea Leadsom after she forced him to quit.
An incensed Mrs Leadsom then demanded to see the PM’s Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell.
She accused Sir Michael of a string of inappropriate remarks when they were Treasury Select Committee members between 2010 and 2012. It was during one meeting that he is said to have crudely advised her where to put her cold hands.
He is also alleged to have made derogatory comments of a sexual nature about other MPs on the committee, as well as members of the public who had attended meetings.
Sir Michael, 65, was hauled in to see Theresa May and was asked if Mrs Leadsom’s allegations were true.
The veteran minister vigorously denied making the hand-warming comment.
But he admitted remarks during committee meetings “might not have been appropriate” — even though he could not recall any specifically.
Mrs May then offered him the opportunity to resign and he accepted it.
