In for a Penny, in for a pound(ing). Poor old Penny Mordaunt has endured a torrid few days in the leadership race. Since becoming the bookies’ favourite on Wednesday, the Portsmouth MP has faced a barrage of criticism from rival ministers about her record in government and views on past issues. Much of this has focused on her advocacy for trans rights but now there are questions about her work ethic in government too.
On Thursday, it was Lord Frost, who worked alongside Mordaunt on the Brexit negotiations. He claimed ‘she wasn’t always visible’ and ‘sometimes I didn’t even know where she was.’ Then on Friday, it was Lord Moylan, who hired (and fired) her at Kensington council, claiming she was sacked because ‘she was incompetent… she couldn’t do the job.’ And now, on Monday, it’s Anne Marie Trevelyan, the incumbent Trade secretary who claims Mordaunt, her junior, is not up to the job.
Asked on air by Nick Ferrari about Mordaunt’s abilities, Trevelyan, who is backing rival Tom Tugendhat, said:
There have been a number of times when she hasn’t been available, which would have been useful, and other ministers have picked up the pieces, yes.
Ouch. It seems that no one who has actually worked closely with Penny wants to see her as PM. As Steerpike’s colleague James Forsyth has pointed out, none of the other three ministers who served with Mordaunt in international trade are supporting her. By contrast, Rishi Sunak is backed by three of his last Treasury team and Liz Truss is supported by three ministers who worked with her in the Foreign Office last month.
All this amid questions about her lack of overseas trips – none between January and March – and claims from department sources alleging she was ‘missing for months’ in her post. Does anyone in Whitehall have a good word to say about Mordaunt?
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