Penny Mordaunt hits out at talk that she’s plotting to topple Rishi Sunak
PENNY Mordaunt has hit out at talk that she is plotting to topple Rishi Sunak and become PM as “nonsense”.
Tory plotters desperate to oust Rishi have been growing in behind Penny as their first choice to replace him.
After a week of growing rumours, Penny has finally broken her silence to hit out at the leadership briefings.
She told BBC Politics South: “This is nonsense, although that’s not the adjective I used in the green room, and I think the public are fed up of this story.”
Ms Mordaunt is best known for being the cabinet minister who held the sword of state perfectly upright during the King’s coronation.
Tory MPs say she has been “on manoeuvres” for months amid growing unease on the backbenches over Rishi’s leadership.
She has previously tried to run for leader against Mr Sunak, but pulled out of the race as she struggled to get the 100 Tory MP nominations needed.
Asked if she had missed her chance to become PM, Ms Mordaunt said: “”I have put my hat in the ring, and I’m not Prime Minister.
“I’m leader of the House of Commons. I’m doing my job and encouraging others to get on with theirs.”
Tory plotters are expected to launch a fresh strike to try to topple Mr Sunak from No10 after the local elections on May 2.
The Conservative party are braced for a hammering at the polls.
But many Tory MPs – including lots who are not Rishi loyalists – are sick of the plotting and say the party will become a laughing stock if they change leaders again.