Penny Mordaunt

Race to replace Boris Johnson includes Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Grant Shapps and Nadim Zahawi.

Her announcement on Twitter Sunday morning followed a slew of entries over the weekend. Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, long considered one of Johnson’s top internal rivals, launched his campaign on Friday. Other runners include former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, who jumped in on Saturday, and senior Tory lawmaker Tom Tugendhat. The latest announcements bring the total list of Conservative contenders to nine, following the collapse in support that forced Johnson to resign on Thursday. Johnson said he would stay in office until his party chooses a replacement.

The Portsmouth North MP was a key figure in the Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum. | ITV News Meridian.

The most recent candidate to put themselves forward is Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt, tweeting: "Our leadership has to change. Despite not being as well-known a name as some of the candidates, Ms Mordaunt is one of the favourites with bookies and has been described as the "dark horse" of the contest. Who is Penny Mordaunt? The 'dark horse' MP tipped to be next prime minister

Candidate says she wants to be 'more about the ship' in clip featuring PM's Brexit joke.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Ms Mordaunt concluded the launch video by saying: “Our leadership has to change. Our greatest heroes have been the living embodiment of them.” By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

English sprinter Jonnie Peacock is edited out of promotional content, along with footage of Oscar Pistorius, following complaint.

On Sunday morning, Mordaunt, the MP for Portsmouth North, posted the video on her Twitter account with the caption “Our leadership has to change. TV presenter Sue Perkins was among those who had tweeted in response to the athlete, saying: “Can’t believe you weren’t even asked for your consent. Paralympic athlete Jonnie Peacock is among several public figures who have asked to be removed from the promotional video released by Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt as she launched her party leadership bid.

Tory leadership candidates have come out swinging with pledges to slash taxes and plough on with controversial Brexit plans as a new contender joined the ...

The reality is this economy needs not only lower taxes for growth, but it also needs sound money, and that is why we need to deliver both.” In addition, he said he wants to “freeze” the proposed increase in corporation tax, pledging: “That is a tax which will not go up.” But Mr Hunt said he would not reverse the tax rise because “the NHS needs the money” from the health and social care levy. The EU claims the legislation would breach international law but Mr Tugendhat said he would be prepared to argue for it, telling Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: “I have fought for my country in combat, I have fought for my country in Parliament, and I will keep fighting for my country.” However, he said he hoped with Mr Johnson out of No 10 the “mood music” of Britain’s relations with the EU might change, and “we could legally negotiate some proper changes to the protocol.” The contenders’ timescales for the change are different, with Mr Hunt planning to cut the tax to 15p in his first autumn Budget, while Mr Javid would set a “glide path.”

Another candidate has thrown their hat into the ring, bringing the number putting themselves in the fray to nine as MPs flock to join the Tory leadership ...

"Our leadership has to change. The video says the leadership contest will bring "a focus on policy and what we will do", adding, "but there must be focus on what we are". It needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship," she said, going on, "I'm Penny Mordaunt, and I'm ready to serve as the next leader of the Conservative Party".

Paralympian Jonnie Peacock had publicly asked to be removed from video, which also originally featured Oscar Pistorius.

I think we owe everybody love and respect, and people should be able to get on and live their lives.” It’s really easy to try and divide communities.” And I am legally a woman. If I have a hysterectomy or mastectomy, I am still a woman. Among these was Jonnie Peacock, the British Paralympic sprinter, shown in the original video crossing the finish line of a race in slow motion. The former defence minister wrote on Twitter: “I am biologically a woman.

MP explained what she believes makes someone 'biologically' a woman in Twitter thread - but now faces criticism from all sides.

And she’s not pleased the transphobes who just recall what she’s said before. “She’s not pleased anyone who wants to hear about actual issues. I will continue to protect them. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. And I am legally a woman.. I would NEVER do anything to undermine them.

Penny Mordaunt has launched her bid to be Prime Minister and Tory leader. The trade minister's pitch deliberately sought to distance herself from the ...

Asked about the timing of the two resignations on the BBC's Sunday Morning, Mr Javid said: "Not at all. I believe Penny Mordaunt is dazzlingly well equipped to be the change we urgently need. "Obstructing lawful, politically legitimate deportations by going to the ECHR destroys trust in politics. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise." I had no idea what he was going to do. He told LBC: "We've now got nine people entered the race. This is the definition of taking back control. "Liz's delivery record in government is second to none. We have got national insurance that should never have been increased, a tax on jobs that has been increased. “Nevertheless, people may still say that Jeremy and I are not ideological soulmates, and they would be right. It is only five months since the death of her father, Femi Adegoke, from a brain tumour. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The three-minute broadcast unauthorised footage of sports stars - including convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius.

Elsewhere in the video, the Portsmouth North MP, who is also a member of the Royal Navy Reserve, said: “Our leadership has to change. It needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship. However, five hours after the original video was posted on Twitter, a different version was put up with the sports personalities, police officer and Dame Sarah all removed.

The International trade minister announced her plans to succeed Boris Johnson after months of speculation.

“Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation. “My family gave me opportunities they could only dream of. "It needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship.”

Conservative leadership candidates have come out swinging with pledges to slash taxes and plough on with controversial Brexit plans as a new contender ...

This is the definition of taking back control.” In addition, he said he wants to “freeze” the proposed increase in corporation tax, pledging: “That is a tax which will not go up.” But Mr Hunt said he would not reverse the tax rise because “the NHS needs the money” from the health and social care levy. The former Cabinet minister also said he agreed with the controversial Rwanda migrant policy and said he would not rule out another Scottish independence referendum “forever”, but would not have one “at least for a decade”. The EU claims the legislation would breach international law but Mr Tugendhat said he would be prepared to argue for it, telling Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: “I have fought for my country in combat, I have fought for my country in Parliament, and I will keep fighting for my country.” However, he said he hoped with Mr Johnson out of No 10 the “mood music” of Britain’s relations with the EU might change, and “we could legally negotiate some proper changes to the protocol”.

Former defence secretary forced to edit out sections of patriotic clip after attracting criticism on social media.

We need return to confidence, we need a return to clear policies. We need more than just a plan, we need teamwork to deliver it. I’m Penny Mordaunt and I’m ready to serve as the next leader of the Conervative Party.” She has so far received the backing of George Freeman, a former minister. Ms Mordaunt was mocked on social media for her video's inclusion of the Pistorius footage. Ms Mordaunt’s rankings in recent leadership polls far outstrip her public profile.

SUELLA Braverman has attacked one of her main Conservative leadership opponents Penny Mordaunt and woke civil servants over attempts to replace the word ...

Instead of passing without opposition, the refusal of the Cabinet Office to compromise meant that I was due to go into labour on 7 March 2021, but the bill still hadn’t come into law in the first week of March. “Had the law not been changed, I, as a woman who gave birth while a member of the cabinet, would have had to resign. Anyone who has given birth will know how intense your feelings are both about your own body and that of the child you’re carrying. Clearly changing the law to reflect the real-world challenges women in the workplace face was the right thing to do. But in an extraordinary row the new law got delayed until after she gave birth because civil servants in the Cabinet Office had tried to suggest the people who get pregnant are not only women. It's about respecting the rights of trans people, as well, I think that's where most people in society are, as well [...] it's understanding that there are sensitivities around this, but equally recognising that everybody, regardless of how you define yourself should be able to live freely.

The race to become the next Conservative Party leader is becoming increasingly dominated by negative briefings between rival campaigns.

It was all very rushed because everyone wanted to make sure Suella could go on maternity leave.” “Penny was handed the bill two days before it went through the House,” they said. Penny was the one who says trans men are men - she is trying to row back on it now because she realises how unpopular it is.” They claimed it was in fact Ms Mordaunt who was responsible for the inclusion of the term "pregnant person" in the bill. She was refusing to compromise on it,” the senior Government source said. “Civil servants in the Equalities Office wrote it.

PENNY Mordaunt kicked off her leadership campaign with an embarrassing gaffe as her launch video was hastily edited to remove several identifiable…

A clip of soldiers wearing a uniform not associated with the British armed forces also featured in the original video but was replaced with some footage of Westminster. Our leadership has to change. Cricketer Jonny Bairstow could be seen in the original video but was replaced by the Angel Of The North sculpture in the follow-up.

Jonnie Peacock asked to be removed from the Tory leadership hopeful's glossy campaign video not long after it went live.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

Penny Mordaunt's original campaign video featured two seconds of footage showing the South African Paralympian and sprinter Jonnie Peacock competing at the ...

A clip of soldiers wearing a uniform not associated with the British armed forces also featured in the original video but was replaced with some footage of Westminster. Cricketer Jonny Bairstow could be seen in the original video but was replaced by the Angel Of The North sculpture in the follow-up. Anything but blue please."

The international trade minister ended months of speculation about her political ambitions this weekend by formally entering the wide-open race to replace ...

Right now, I’d like to address another question that I’ve been asked: Do I know what a woman is? At this point the new leader will be able to command a majority in the House of Commons - and the Queen will invite them to take over as PM. With the 49-year-old now tipped to do well in the Tory leadership race, there has been refreshed scrutiny of her past comments on trans issues. Yet, while Ms Mordaunt was looking to move on from one row, she suffered a further blow when her campaign launch video was revealed to include footage of Pistorius at the 2012 Paralympics - two years before he was convicted of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. This pair are then expected to go head to head in a national vote of the Tory membership. The winner should be announced in time for the return of Parliament at the beginning of September. MPs expect that they will start to vote on the candidates on Thursday, after a brief spell of hustings at Parliament and some intense lobbying in the tea room and corridors. And the body's first duty will then be to decide on how to conduct the leadership race - with the details expected to be confirmed tonight. The race to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader - and consequently as PM - is getting under way in earnest this week. Ms Mordaunt suffered a further blow when her campaign launch video was revealed to include footage of killer Oscar Pistorius at the 2012 Paralympics But we ought to be able to be confident and generous enough to be able to be welcoming to minorities and welcoming to people of different persuasions. Supporters of Penny Mordaunt were today insisting the Tory leadership hopeful is a 'liberty lioness' and 'no woke warrior' as they looked to get her campaign back on track after early stumbles.