Penny Mordaunt has said it is “not a disappointment” that she will not get a promotion in Rishi Sunak's cabinet. Ms Mordaunt will remain in her role as Commons Leader.
The Portsmouth North MP recently lost in her bid to become the next Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister but will continue to stay in Mr Sunak's cabinet. She withdrew from this month’s contest as she failed to get the 100 nominations from Tory MPs required by the deadline, paving the way for Mr Sunak to become Prime Minister.
Labour shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire congratulated her on remaining in her job, saying: “There were suggestions it might not have been the job she was hoping for. But as Parliament’s representative in Government, and Government’s representative in Parliament, we both know that she has an incredibly important role.”
But Ms Mordaunt replied: “It is not a disappointment to find myself here, in part because I very much enjoy the exchanges I have across the despatch box with the honourable lady. It was important we tested the proposition of a contest, and we did, to destruction. And I think that… has been a good outcome.”
The start of business questions on Thursday was delayed by 50 minutes after Ms Mordaunt had to attend a meeting of the Privy Council with the King. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle announced Ms Mordaunt was “unable to be present until around 12pm”, adding: “Given there is no deputy leader, I have to suspend the House until her return.”
A spokesman for the Commons Leader said: “She attended a meeting of the Privy Council this morning with the King. That was the reason she was unable to be in the chamber.”
Ms Mordaunt added in the Commons: “All members of this House can be very proud that we have the first British Asian Prime Minister. He was being sworn in this morning which is why we’ve had this unusual time for business questions today.”
Conservative MP Peter Bone held the role of deputy Commons leader between July 8 and September 27 and was not replaced, and no other frontbencher was put forward to deputise for Ms Mordaunt.
