Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt launches bid to become Conservative Party leader and prime minister - as she addresses Thatcher, trans issues, and sexist swimsuit photos

It comes as 16 MPs – including Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage - so far have publicly backed the trade minister for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Speaking to The News, she thanked residents who have sent supportive messages and said her values and beliefs had been ‘shaped’ by the city and its residents.

She said: ‘I hope that the people of Portsmouth will get behind me. They will understand why I want to serve.’

Her campaign website – with the slogan PM4PM – pitches the former defence secretary as a ‘pragmatist’ who sees Margaret Thatcher as ‘remarkable’ and believes socialist ideas in government would be ‘a disaster’.

In a statement on her campaign website, Ms Mordaunt said: ‘My party was elected to deliver a manifesto. The party was elected to deliver Brexit – and the benefits of it. We must all recover from the economic damage done by the pandemic and recent global shocks and build resilience.

‘To deliver on all these objectives we need to build a team, not just among the party but with every sector and every part of the UK. We need to modernise to deliver. That means reform in how government operates.’

Last week saw the MP become bookie’s favourite for the top job in British politics – but some city residents still need convincing.

Jade Gunn er, who grew up in North End, said: ‘I haven’t heard a lot about her, but what I have heard has been good things.

‘I’m happy that she is representing Portsmouth, because the city needs it.’

The 32-year-old said she planned to vote for the Labour Party at the next election – but she would find out more about Ms Mordaunt before casting her vote.

She said: ‘The Conservatives have messed up – they need to change.’

Other residents were more supportive – but were animated by a divisive issue that the MP herself has taken the time to address.

John Bowler, a 74-year-old North End resident who has ‘always’ supported Ms Mordaunt with his vote, said: ‘My only concern is her stance on trans issues.

‘I’m against people who are born a man playing women in sports.’

This weekend saw the MP post several messages on Twitter regarding her stance on trans and gender rights issues, after she had come under fire from conservative commentators.

Posting on the social media platform, Ms Mordaunt said: ‘I am biologically a woman...and I am legally a woman.

‘Some people born male and who have been through gender recognition process are also legally female. This does not mean they are biologically women, like me...the biology is overwhelmingly important.’

The Portsmouth North MP also poked fun at a recent story about potential Conservative Party leaders in The Times, which choose to use a photo of the MP in a swimsuit during her appearance on the diving contest TV show Splash!.

Ms Mordaunt said: ‘I always dress in a swimsuit for the newspapers.

‘Like many of you, I’m used to being patronised and misrepresented.’

The MP thanked The News journalists for using social media for ‘calling out’ the sexist use of the photo.