Andrea Leadsom

Age 53 Number of MP backers 84 MP for, and since when South Northamptonshire, 2010

Background and

education Born in Aylesbury in 1963 and raised by her divorced mother in Tring, Herts, in a terraced house with an outside lavatory. She has two sisters. Her mother Judy divorced her father Richard Salmon when she was four and later remarried and opened a furniture shop. Her father ran a builder’s merchant. She attended Tonbridge Girls Grammar, Kent, then Warwick University. She holds a degree in political science.

Family Married husband Ben, a businessman, in 1993. They have three children – Fred, 20, Harry, 18, and Charlotte, 12.

Experience outside

politics Worked in the financial sector, becoming a banker at Barclays by the age of 30. Worked at De Putron, a company owned by her brother-in-law until 1999, when she joined Invesco Perpetual where she worked for 10 years as senior investment officer, then head of corporate governance. Political experience Councillor before becoming an MP and unsuccessfully contested Knowsley South in 2005. On Commons Treasury committee between 2010-14 and then served as economic secretary to the Treasury from April 2010 to May 2015. Appointed minister for energy in May 2015.

Leave or Remain Played leading role in the Vote Leave campaign, travelling the country with Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Priti Patel.

Controversies Has faced questions about her tax affairs, her CV and previous job roles and views on gay marriage. Her supporters say that she has been victim of attacks because she is a threat to Mrs May, but her record on homosexuality is more difficult to explain. Strengths & Weaknesses Her strength lies in her decision to back Brexit and the fact that she is a relatively new candidate, allowing her to make the case for being the fresh face of the Conservative party. But this could also go against her because Mrs Leadsom’s major weakness is said to be her inexperience. Migration Promised to protect the rights of European Union citizens living in the EU up until Sept 9 but there are likely to be new arrangements for those arriving after this date.

Economy Wants the UK to take advantage of new trade deals and wants to curb big banking bonuses, increase pay for those on modest incomes and introduce “smarter working”.

Article 50 Would trigger it as soon as she became prime minister. Trident: Backs renewal but no timetable.

Snap Election Both candidates have ruled out a snap general election and a second EU referendum.

One sentence pitch “I want to lead a nation where anyone who aims high can achieve their dreams.” Interesting fact Her favourite film is Four Weddings and a Funeral and she watches it at least once a year