Until just a week ago, few had heard of Penny Mordaunt. Now, the name of this 49-year-old Conservative MP resonates as that of the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. A meteoric rise that there are those who consider it temporary and those who see it as the natural reaction to years of excesses and scandals.
In the first vote among parliamentarians tories to elect their new leader, Mordaunt, current secretary of state for trade, has been placed as one of the favorite candidates after getting 67 votes. A result that places her in second position, only behind Rishi Sunak, former head of Economy and instigator of the riot that brought down Johnson, who obtained the support of 88 colleagues.
Despite his success among the party members, Mordaunt will have to convince the ranks, who will have to choose between the two finalists. And according to the latest YouGov survey, she is preferred by 27% of the militants – ahead of the other five candidates in the running – despite having been the last to launch her campaign. The trick to her success? Being a relatively new face.
British Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt launches leadership campaign in London
Reuters
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Relative because she was one of the main supporters of the campaign Vote Leave in favor of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. A strong probrexit posture that generates sympathy in the hard wing of the party.
But if you’re getting attract affiliates This is because in recent years he has kept his distance from the recently resigned prime minister, unlike his fellow Conservatives, who until recently held top-tier portfolios.
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In 2017, Mordaunt joined Theresa May’s cabinet, first as Secretary for International Development and then as Defense Secretary. However, in the previous Conservative Party leadership race in 2019, she chose to endorse Johnson’s rival Jeremy Hunt. A choice she didn’t like premier outgoing, who decided to demote her to a non-cabinet position.
The former prime minister demoted her to a non-cabinet post for backing his main rival, Jeremy Hunt.
Thus, Mordaunt represents a breath of fresh air within the party. Especially since his life history It is also out of the ordinary. Born in Torquay, on the south coast of England, her mother died of breast cancer when she was 15 and her father was diagnosed with cancer a year later, although she recovered.
In order to support the family and finance his studies (he studied philosophy at the University of Reading) he became in a magician’s assistant. He also enlisted as a reservist in the British Royal Navy, an occupation he has held throughout his political career.
British Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt launches a leadership campaign in London.
Reuters
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Her political career began in 2010, when she was elected MP for Portsmouth North, from where she rose rapidly. Her political vocation, however, came long before her. Specifically, during the sabbatical year that she lived in Romania – that she was recovering from the 1989 revolution – and where she worked as volunteer in hospitals and orphanages.
However, not everything has been flattery. In 2014, she participated in a TV show called Splash!, where the famous They learned to dive. A decision that caused teasing among his teammates.
Also his position on the defense in favor of the rights of trans people has generated discomfort among the most conservative of the party. However, she has brought her closer to the more moderate faction of the party.
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