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Tracey Crouch has revealed the real reason she turned down a job in Boris Johnson's cabinet.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Miss Crouch said she did not want to be a minister because she would rather spend more time with her three-year-old son Freddie.
It is understood The Chatham and Aylesford MP was offered the job of culture secretary earlier this week.
Fellow Medway MP Kelly Tolhurst was also offered a job in government.
The Rochester and Strood representative has been reappointed to her role as Minister for Small Business.
Tracy Crouch was previously Minister for loneliness and sports but quit to protest against fixed-odds betting terminals last year.
She told The Times: "I realised that when I was a minister I had been falling asleep on the sofa at 8pm — meaning Steve’s (her partner and Freddie's father) adult conversation was as limited when I was home as it was when I was away.
"With my head not quite at home, even if my body was, I had been missing my squidgy baby turning into a running, jumping, desperate-to-please-Mummy proper little boy."
After attending multiple sporting events as part of her role, she realised she was not spending enough time at home.
Miss Crouch said: "I felt deprived of my time with my boys, especially on working weekends.
"The problem with being a senior minister is that the expectation to do the weekend media and events is enormous.
"You’re part of a very important team and you need to pull your weight. I don’t want to do that right now."
She concluded: "Right now my heart and soul are not captured by the privilege of having a red box, but here at home with my life partner trying to get our funny little boy to say 'banana'."
