Penny Mordaunt, the House of Commons leader and a potential frontrunner in the impending race for the leadership of the Conservative Party, faced a significant setback as she lost her seat in Portsmouth North. Mordaunt, who has served as an MP since 2010, was defeated by Labour challenger Amanda Martin in the recent election.
The election results showed that Martin secured 14,495 votes, surpassing Mordaunt's 13,715 votes. This outcome marked a notable shift from the 2019 election, where Mordaunt had a substantial majority of over 15,000 votes against Martin.
Mordaunt's defeat comes as a blow to moderate Conservatives who were looking to steer the party away from its populist faction. Her loss has implications for the party's future leadership dynamics, as Mordaunt was considered a potential contender in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as party leader.
In the 2022 leadership contest, Mordaunt competed against Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, and her expected participation in future leadership races added to the significance of her defeat. Mordaunt's political influence extended beyond national borders, as she gained recognition globally for her role as the 'lady in blue' at King Charles' coronation.
