Andrea Leadsom red-faced as mystery grows over Tory leadership hopeful’s ‘TW’ nickname
Westminster sources say it stands for “Tiddlywinks”, but others think the enigmatic alias has an altogether racier origin
ANDREA Leadsom was left red-faced yesterday when it emerged her Tory campaign manager gave her the “affectionate” nickname ‘TW’ when they were linked at Uni.
Tory MP Tim Loughton insisted the sobriquet was nothing “X-rated” as the revelation led to lewd speculation about what the possible PM was called in the 80s.
He told the Sun: “It was fun, affectionate, and when it eventually comes out people will just have a chuckle.”
Sources in Westminster suggested ‘TW’ stood for “Tiddlywinks”. Others made far more racy suggestions.
It was reported yesterday that the pair grew close at Warwick University where sources claimed the pair “were an item”. Tim Loughton was secretary of the Uni’s Conservative Association and encouraged Ms Leadsom – now Energy Minister – to join.
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One pal told the Daily Mail: “Andrea and Tim were both members of a black-tie dining club called the Patricians.
“The club would meet for grand dinners at a hotel in Leamington Spa.
“The most curious aspect of their relationship was that Loughton would refer to her by the initials ‘TW’.
No one knew why, but soon, other people started copying Tim and calling her TW as well.”
Ms Leadsom – then Salmon - went onto marry Ben Leadsom in 1993. Mr Loughton married the previous year. The Leadsom camp is furious with what they see as a wave of dirty tricks against their candidate.
Mr Loughton tweeted on Sunday that he would not be drawn into “silly games”.