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Theresa May is already under pressure to sack Andrea Leadsom after she suggested men should not become nannies because they might be paedophiles.

Mrs Leadsom, who has only been in her post as Environment Secretary in the new cabinet since yesterday, made the comments in an interview with The Times published today.

And Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said the remarks were so "stupid" that the Prime Minister should fire her.

Mr Farron said: "Andrea Leadsom has let yet another of her masks slip.

"These remarks are stupid, ignorant, and not ones any minister should be making.

"Over the last day Theresa May has shown she is willing to relieve ministers of their duties and she must do so again now.

"It is inconceivable that somebody who holds such offensive, ignorant views should be sat around the cabinet table."

Mrs Leadsom, who has already run into trouble after suggesting she would be a better leader than Mrs May because she is a mother, had insisted parents needed to be cautious when dealing with childcare.

She told the paper: "As an employer we're not, let's face it, most of us don't employ men as nannies, most of us don't. Now you can call that sexist, I call that cautious and very sensible when you look at the stats.

"Your odds are stacked against you if you employ a man. We know paedophiles are attracted to working with children. I'm sorry but they're the facts."

Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth said: "This is an extraordinarily offensive statement from the new Environment Secretary.

"Andrea Leadsom should apologise immediately and the Prime Minister should also distance herself from these comments."

The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said Mrs May had confidence in the minister, adding: "These were personal views that were expressed, and she, as in Andrea Leadsom, has said that she employed a male nanny for five years, and doesn't think that men, or fathers, shouldn't be nannies."

A spokeswoman for Mrs Leadsom said the Minister had employed a male nanny and "was not saying that men are unsuitable as nannies."

The interview with Mrs Leadsom was conducted last week when she was still a contender for the Tory crown.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.