Penny Mordaunt: Portsmouth North MP withdraws her bid to be the next prime minister

The Portsmouth North MP has been pushing to get 100 MPs backing her in the leadership contest, but has pulled out right on the deadline.

It came just moments before Sir Graham Brady – chairman of the 1922 Committee – was due to announce the runners and riders for the leadership contest.

Sir Graham confirmed to MPs in Westminster that he had received one valid entry.

This means that Rishi Sunak will become party leader by default, and therefore will likely also become prime minister.

Ms Mordaunt said: ‘Depsite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today. They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country.

‘As a result, we have chosen our next prime minister. This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi [Sunak] has my full support.

‘I am proud of the campaign we ran and grateful to all those, across all sides of our party, who gave me their backing.

‘We all owe it to the country, to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation. There is much work to be done.’

Mr Sunak was defeated by Liz Truss in the previous leadership contest.

In a message to The News, Ms Mordaunt added: ‘I want to say thank you for all the support I have had from Portsmouth in recent months and the last week in particular.

‘It means a great deal.’