Stafford MP readopted as Tory candidate at second attempt

The Conservative MP for Stafford, Theo Clarke, has been readopted as the party's candidate for the next general election.

The 37-year-old has represented the town since 2019 and on Monday won a ballot of local association members.

In February, she was rejected to be the candidate by her constituency association committee, one week after she returned from maternity leave.

"I was particularly disappointed," she said of the decision earlier this year.

"I returned from maternity on the Monday and that particular vote took place on the Friday just four days after I returned from looking after my baby so that was quite disappointing.

"But I am so pleased members have supported me to stand as their MP at the next election."

Ms Clarke is the niece of former business secretary and North East Somerset Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.

She was elected as MP for Stafford in 2019 with a majority of more than 14,000 during Boris Johnson's landslide victory.

In December, she told how the climate for women in public roles had become "toxic" after she was berated by constituents for taking six months off after having her daughter.

"I do think it's shocking the level of abuse that female MPs do receive," she said after Monday's ballot.

"I had remarks such as 'we pay your wages, get back to work' and complaints that I hadn't held a surgery within a week of coming out of hospital and I had a pretty major operation after giving birth."

Ms Clarke admitted it was "particularly challenging" combining an MP's workload with a baby but said she thought Parliament had taken "quite a lot of steps" to help working mothers.

"That's certainly something I'll be campaigning for going ahead as I really do want to encourage more young women to stand for office," she said.

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