TORY leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom sparked outrage today over comments claiming she has the edge on rival Theresa May – because she is a mum.

Home Secretary May had spoken of her sadness at not having children – and called for the contest to remain clean.

3 Theresa May has spoken of her sadness at not having children Credit: Alamy

3 Tory leadership contender Andrea Leadsom spoke outside her home this morning Credit: PA:Press Association

But in an interview with The Times Mrs Leadsom reportedly claimed her children meant she had "a very real stake" in the future of the country - compared to Mrs May.

Her comments have been branded “disgusting” by supporters of May.

In an interview the mum-of-three, 53, said her rival “possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people”.

She added: “But I have children who are going to have children who will directly be a part of what happens next.

“Genuinely I feel that being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake.”

related stories 'KEEP IT CLEAN' May challenges Brexit champion Andrea Leadsom to reject help from Ukip and keep a 'clean campaign' PRITI PATEL Theresa May has vision, determination, experience and must be our next PM The Tory Corbyn Top Conservative MPs warn Andrea Leadsom would be lame duck leader just like Labour's Jezza how much is true? New doubts over Leadsom's City career as ex-colleague says she was only in charge of 'pay and rations' GOOD LORD Leadsom forced to deny God would be driving policy if she became PM in car crash interviews

The Conservative leadership contender claimed her children meant she had "a very real stake" in the future of the country, contrasting herself with Mrs May.

One MP backing Mrs May said: “I think these comments are disgusting. I think it’s going to insult a lot of Conservative activists as well as a lot of nice, decent people.”

But Mrs Leadsom hit back, tweeting: "Truly appalling and the exact opposite of what I said. I am disgusted."

Mrs May and her husband Philip were unable to have children and said they "were both affected by it".

She said: "Of course we were both affected by it. You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you.

"Sometimes things you wish had happened don't or there are things you wish you'd been able to do, but can't. There are other couples in a similar position."

She called on her opponent to fight a clean campaign and stay within “acceptable” limits of political debate before her rival's comments were made public.

3 Andrea Leadsom took to Twitter on Friday night to say that the report was “the exact opposite of what I said” Credit: PA:Press Association

Truly appalling and the exact opposite of what I said. I am disgusted. https://t.co/DPFzjNmKie — Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) July 8, 2016

Energy minister and underdog in the fight for No 10 Leadsom said: "I am sure Theresa will be really sad she doesn’t have children so I don’t want this to be ‘Andrea has children, Theresa hasn’t’, because I think that would be really horrible.”

But she added: "It means you don’t want a downturn but, never mind, ten years hence it will all be fine. My children will be starting their lives in that next ten years so I have a real stake in the next year, the next two.”

Mrs Leadsom, 53, who has two sons and a daughter with her husband, Ben, went on: “I think when you are thinking about the issues that other people have you worry about your kids’ exam results, what direction their careers are taking, what we are going to eat on Sunday.”

She said late last night that she had not intended to suggest that Mrs May’s lack of children would have any impact on her job.

Speaking outside her home today Mrs Leadsom said: “I repeatedly made it clear that I did not want this to be in any way a feature of the campaign.

“I want to be crystal clear that everyone has an equal stake in our society and in the future of our country.

“That is what I believe and it is what I have always believed.”

Theresa May is now the overwhelming favourite to be next PM according to bookmaker Paddy Power who have made her odds-on (2/9) to succeed.

Rival Andrea Leadsom is priced at 10/3 but the bookmaker thinks she's more likely to fill the position of Chancellor in the next government, offering odds of 3/1.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368