Penny Mordaunt mocks speculation she could succeed Rishi Sunak as prime minister

Speaking after delivering the weekly business statement today, leader of the House Penny Mordaunt appeared to address speculation that she could succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader.

Mordaunt joked: “I have briefly emerged from under the hairdryer, put down my Take a Break magazine, managed not only to find my way to the chamber this morning, but also remember on which side of it I am supposed to be sitting to be present and correct for business questions. Quite a feat, if media reports are to be believed.”

“I have been buoyed up by what the Honourable Lady [shadow leader of the House Lucy Powell] has said. After all, this week we have seen inflation fall to 3.4%”

A recent article in the Telegraph described Penny Mordaunt as “at a beauty parlour in Portsmouth”, throwing “a copy of Take A Break at the TV screen” upon hearing that she is being talked up as a potential leadership rival.

Mordaunt’s comments today followed an address by Lucy Powell, who also alluded to the speculation about the House leader’s future, saying: “Thousands of column inches written about the unfolding drama. Will she? Won’t she? When will it come to a head?

“Yet she’s remained tight lipped, ducking the question”.

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