Kemi Badenoch has hit back at a Tory MP's suggestion that she can't lead the party because she is too "preoccupied" with her children, saying "men have parental responsibilities too".
Sir Christopher Chope, the Conservative MP for Christchurch, said earlier on Tuesday that he was supporting Robert Jenrick in the leadership race because he brought "more energy and commitment to the campaign".
He went on to say: "As much as I like Kemi, she is preoccupied with her own children, quite understandably."
Asked whether she could be both a mother and a party leader, Ms Badenoch told GB News: "Of course you can. I love my children. I have the most beautiful children in the world. I want to spend as much time with them as possible.
"I was able to be a great business secretary and trade secretary and equalities minister, effectively doing three jobs while balancing my home life."
On what she would say to Sir Christopher, she said: "I might remind him that it isn't always women who have parental responsibilities, men do too."
Mother-of-three Ms Badenoch's youngest child is five and her eldest is 12, while Mr Jenrick also has three children between the ages of eight and 13.
In the interview, with ITV News Meridian, Sir Christopher said: "Robert's children are a bit older, and I think it's important that whoever leads the opposition has got an immense amount of time and energy."
He rejected that he meant mothers with young children can't lead political parties, telling the broadcaster: "I'm not saying that at all - I was one of Margaret Thatcher's staunchest supporters.
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"What gives me the concern is that I understand from colleagues that Kemi spends a lot of time with her family which I don't resent at all... but the consequence of it is you can't spend all your time with your family at the same time as being leader of the opposition.
"You could argue that Margaret Thatcher's family suffered as a result of the commitment and dedication which she gave to leading our country. It's a perfectly fair point."
Mr Chope's comments have sparked a backlash from within the Tory party, including from Mr Jenrick himself.
Speaking to GB News, which hosted a leadership event this evening, the former immigration minister said: "He was wrong. He was definitely wrong.
"Kemi and I both have three children. She's a great Mum. I'd like to think I'm a great Dad."
Shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins posted on X: "This is the 2020s, not the 1950s. All working mums and dads juggle family, career and general life.
"That one of our final two impressive candidates also happens to be a mum reflects the modern Conservative Party and modern life. Here's to all working mums."
And Nickie Aitken, the former MP for Cities of London and Westminster, wrote: "I was 7 months pregnant and with a toddler in tow when first elected a councillor in 2006.
"During their childhoods I became a council leader and MP. Like all working mums, political or otherwise, I juggled and made it work with my husband. Chope's comments just show what a dinosaur he really is."
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Mr Chope's comments are reminiscent of the 2016 Tory leadership campaign, when Andrea Leadsom, then an energy minister, suggested in an interview she would make a better party leader and prime minister than Theresa May because she was a mother and had "a very real stake" in the UK's future.
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Ms Leadsom later apologised to her opponent and withdrew from the race, leaving Mrs May unopposed. The now Baroness May went on to lead the party and was prime minister from 2016 to 2019.
Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick are the final two candidates vying to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader after James Cleverly, the candidate from the centre, was knocked out of the contest last week.
The party membership vote will close at 5pm on Thursday 31 October and the winner will be announced on Saturday 2 November.
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