Did Jenrick say: We have had enough women PMs?

EMBATTLED Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick was last night at the centre of a Westminster mystery over which Government Minister made the disparaging declaration that the UK has ‘had enough female Prime Ministers’.

The story has been relayed by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who has told audiences of Tory activists that during last year’s Tory leadership contest, an unnamed senior Tory had urged her not to run herself.

Ms Rudd claimed that the man had said that, after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May had made it to No10, there was no need for the party to prioritise a woman in the race.

Tory MPs claim that Mr Jenrick, currently embroiled in a ‘cash for favours’ row over a housing development, was the MP who made the remark – which he denies.

At the time of the alleged comment, Mr Jenrick was working as Ms Rudd’s parliamentary aide, but backing Boris Johnson for the leadership. When The Mail on Sunday asked Ms Rudd the identity of the MP, she said: ‘It seems mean to spill that one.’ When pressed further if it was Mr Jenrick, Ms Rudd declined to answer.

Mr Jenrick said: ‘I don’t believe I ever said that. It’s not something I would say and is about as far removed from my own views as is possible.

‘At the time I was Amber’s [adviser] and a hugely supportive one as well, as she would no doubt attest to.’ A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said last night: ‘The idea that Robert would say that is frankly absurd and disgusting.

‘He’s one of the strongest male advocates for women in Parliament, was Amber’s hugely supportive PPS when she was planning to run for leader and is the father of three daughters, one of whom he even gave the middle name

Thatcher to encourage them to reach for the top.’

The ‘cash for favours’ row followed Mr Jenrick’s approval of businessman Richard Desmond’s proposal for a 1,500-home development in East London. The Minister overruled the planning inspector and his own officials to grant permission in January, two months after he sat next to Desmond at a

Tory fundraising dinner. He subsequently had to quash his own decision, admitting ‘apparent bias’ but denying any wrongdoing.

The Commons Housing Select Committee said last week that it disagreed with the Prime Minister’s claim that ‘the matter is closed’, and summoned Mr Jenrick to appear to explain ‘serious mistakes’ in his handling of the plan.