Amber Rudd questioned by presenter Mishal Hussain (Picture: Getty)

The Home Secretary defended the Conservative record despite her father passing away days before, it has emerged.

Amber Rudd appeared in Theresa May’s place during the election debate on BBC One this evening.

She decided not to step down even after her father Tony, 93, died on Monday.

‘It just shows how tough she is,’ one of her friends told the Sun.


The loss is her second in a matter of months, with her former husband AA Gill also passing away in December. They had two children together.

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Amber Rudd stands behind the blue column (Picture: Getty)

Ms Rudd faced a barrage of criticism during the debate, from the six others on stage who accused her leader of being too weak to take part.



Many people said they felt sorry for her for ‘taking the flak’.

As the news broke of her personal tragedy, people praised her for remaining strong at what is undoubtedly a difficult time.

Props to Amber Rudd – standing in for @theresa_may despite the fact her dad died on Monday. — that bloke (@bl0ke) May 31, 2017

Amber Rudd"s father died on Monday. How brave of her to stand up for what she believes in; throws May"s cowardice into relief. — Fran (@baboons) May 31, 2017

So Amber Rudd's father died on Monday night. Massive respect to her for attending tonight but she shouldn't have had to! #BBCDebate — Rachel (@Rachel_IRL) May 31, 2017

Ms Rudd, a former stockbroker, said her party was the only one which could deliver strong government as we enter Brexit negotiations.

She claimed Jeremy Corbyn’s policies were unrealistic, comparing him to someone playing Monopoly ‘where you ask the banker for the red money to pay electrics, the green money to buy the railways and the yellow money to buy the gasworks.’