Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt knocked out of the race to be Conservative Party leader and next prime minister

THE MP for Portsmouth North, Penny Mordaunt, has been knocked out of the race to become the next prime minister in the Conservative Party leadership contest, as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss move forward.
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In the final round of voting by Tory MPs, Penny Mordaunt received 105 votes, former chancellor Rishi Sunak secured 137 and foreign secretary Liz Truss gained 113, with the top two now facing a ballot of party members to decide the next Conservative leader and prime minister.

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In a statement after her elimination from the contest Ms Mordaunt congratulated Mr Sunak and Ms Truss, saying that politics is a ‘divisive and difficult place’ while calling for unity.

Penny Mordaunt speaking in 2019.Penny Mordaunt speaking in 2019.
Penny Mordaunt speaking in 2019.
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The trade minister said: ‘I pay tribute to anyone who puts themselves forward for such a demanding role.

‘Politics isn’t easy. It can be a divisive and difficult place. We must all now work together to unify our party and focus on the job that needs to be done.

‘I am a One Nation, proud Brexiteer. My campaign put forward a positive vision for the country I love so much, remembering who we are here to serve.

‘Our mission is not only to deliver on what we promised but to win the fight against Labour at the next general election. I hope to play my part in both.’

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Portsmouth City Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said he hoped that the Conservative MP would run again and be given a place in the cabinet under whoever becomes the next prime minister.

The Liberal Democrat politician said: ‘Likewise if there was a vacancy I would hope Stephen Morgan would become leader of the Labour Party.

‘It’s good for Portsmouth if our MPs are in positions of influence and power.

‘Penny was a capable cabinet minister – the first female secretary of state for defence – and Boris wouldn’t put her in the cabinet because she backed another candidate in the leadership content.

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Speaking of Ms Truss and Mr Sunak appointing Ms Mordaunt to a senior position within government, he said: ‘I’m sure they will. They will have recognised that Penny is a good team player.

‘I think defence would be the perfect thing for her but Ben Wallace is in place and I think any PM wouldn’t want to move him.

‘Chancellor would be good but things will be extremely difficult with the public finances going forward.

‘Foreign secretary would be a good thing as well, and looking after the levelling-up agenda would be an interesting one.’

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But the city councillor said it was ‘very obvious’ that both Mr Sunak and Ms Truss were ‘really frightened’ of their fellow Tory MP who has represented Portsmouth North for more than a decade.

Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: ‘My presumption is that their camps worked together to remove Penny who was their big threat.’

Ms Mordaunt’s loss comes as an investigation is launched into allegations that material was leaked from within the civil service to supposedly damage her campaign.

David Davis, one of Ms Mordaunt’s most prominent backers within the Conservative Party, wrote to the cabinet secretary over the weekend to raise his concerns that information had been leaked to damage her leadership campaign.

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The city’s council leader has made his feelings clear on who he would prefer to see at Number 10 Downing Street.

Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: ‘I think Rishi Sunak appears to be more sensible – which almost certainly guarantees that he will lose.

‘I think as someone who doesn’t want to see a Conservative government, I think Liz Truss would be good for me politically, but bad for the country.’

Conservative Party members will have until Friday, September 2 to cast their vote.

The winner will be announced at 12.30pm on Monday, September 5.