Penny Mordaunt
Penelope Mary Mordaunt (/ˈmɔːrdənt/;[1] born 4 March 1973)[2] is a British Conservative politician who is currently Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. She was the Secretary of State for Defence in 2019, and has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth North since 2010.
Penny Mordaunt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 6 September 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Liz Truss Rishi Sunak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Mark Spencer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of State for Trade Policy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 16 September 2021 – 6 September 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Greg Hands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary of State for Defence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 May 2019 – 24 July 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Theresa May | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Gavin Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ben Wallace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary of State for International Development | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 9 November 2017 – 1 May 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Theresa May | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Priti Patel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Rory Stewart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Women and Equalities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 30 April 2018 – 24 July 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Theresa May | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Amber Rudd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Amber Rudd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sarah McCarthy-Fry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Majority | 15,780 (34.4%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Penelope Mary Mordaunt 4 March 1973 Torquay, Devon, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Paul Murray (m. 1999; div. 2000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Oaklands Catholic School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Reading (BA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | pennymordaunt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Royal Navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 2010–2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Acting Sub-Lieutenant (Honorary Captain) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | Royal Naval Reserve | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mordaunt was Secretary of State for International Development from 2017 to 2019.
In May 2019, Mordaunt was appointed Defence Secretary after Gavin Williamson was fired.[3] She is the first woman to hold this post.
In July 2022, Mordaunt announced her candidacy to replace Boris Johnson as Leader of the Conservative Party in the 2022 leadership election.[4] She was eliminated in the fifth round of voting on 20 July 2022.[5]
After Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister in October 2022, Mordaunt announced her candidacy for Conservative Party leader again for the October leadership election.[6] She withdrew from the race on 23 October 2022 and supported Rishi Sunak, who won the election unopposed.
Penny Mordaunt Media
Mordaunt on a visit to Kutupalong in Bangladesh in November 2017
Penny Mordaunt at RUSI in 2019
Mordaunt, as Lord President of the Council, arriving at the Accession Council of King Charles III
Mordaunt's 2022 leadership logo
Mordaunt in a meeting with Rishi Sunak
British Royal Navy (sleeves) OF-5
Coronation of Charles III Medal ribbon
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References
- ↑ Mordaunt, Penny (2009). Penny welcome video blog. YouTube. Event occurs at 0:05. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ Profile, ukwhoswho.com; accessed 8 May 2015.
- ↑ Proctor, Charlie (1 May 2019). "The Queen appoints Penny Mordaunt as the first ever female Defence Secretary". royalcentral.co.uk.
- ↑ Lyons, Gerald (9 July 2022). "Penny Mordaunt will deliver the new economic vision that Britain needs". The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/07/09/penny-mordaunt-will-deliver-new-economic-vision-britain-needs/. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ↑ "Mordaunt crashes out of Tory leadership race leaving Sunak and Truss in the final – video". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ↑ "Penny Mordaunt announces leadership bid after Liz Truss resigns". Sky News. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-21.