Rishi Sunak: Hampshire Conservatives call for unity after Penny Mordaunt withdrew from leadership contest

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the Conservative Party leadership contest just moments before the deadline for applications.

After Boris Johnson pulled out at the weekend, that left Rishi Sunak as the only surviving candidate – and he was duly appointed as the new party leader.

It comes following a chaotic few weeks in Westminster, with cabinet resignations and a scrambled vote on fracking, culminating in the departure of Liz Truss after just 44 days as prime minister.

Ms Mordaunt pulled out just moments before Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announced the nominees for the leadership contest.

She said: ‘Despite 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.’

In a further message to The News, Ms Mordaunt thanked Portsmouth Conservatives for the support she has received during her campaigns.

She added: ‘I want to say a huge 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.’

She has also called for unity among Conservatives in the weeks and months ahead, as Mr Sunak gets unpacked at 10 Downing Street.

This sentiment has been echoed by her colleagues in Westminster.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage had been a staunch supporter of Ms Mordaunt throughout both her leadership campaigns. She said: ‘I was proud to support my friend Penny Mordaunt. However, the last thing the country needed was further uncertainly and delay, so I offer my congratulations and support to Rishi Sunak.

‘I've no doubt he will put our country first, provide unity, direction & common purpose. His first job is to put our economy back on track to face the challenges ahead.’

Meon Valley MP, Flick Drummond, has publicly supported Mr Sunak from the outset, and said she was ‘incredibly happy’ with the leadership outcome.

‘I know he has the economic competence to take the country foward, and I’m excited that somebody I fully believe in will be in charge,’ she said.

‘Hopefully the public will see a unified party that gets the country and economy back on track.

‘It’s his time.’

Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Sean Woodward, says the key for Mr Sunak is building the right cabinet – and he believes that starts with Penny Mordaunt.

He said: ‘I hope things go better this time around – the absolute key is getting the confidence of the financial markets and surrounding himself in his cabinet with people of talent.

‘That is where Boris Johnson went wrong, as did Liz Truss; we need somebody to create a team with the best this party has to offer.

‘Penny Mordaunt should be right at the top of that list.’

Fareham MP Suella Braverman added: ‘Britain needs a leader who can provide stability and proven economic competence in these challenging times, and Rishi Sunak is that person.

‘He will bring much-needed stability and unity, so that everyone begins to feel more confident about their incomes, savings, bills, mortgages and pensions.

‘Rishi has what it takes to provide the leadership needed to unite our Party and get our country back on track.’