Supporters of Truss have criticized Penny Mordaunt’s performance in the leadership contest.
Senior members of Truss’s campaign team are claiming that Mordaunt is simply not up to the job, while her credentials are also being questioned in the media.
The Daily Mail whose headline is, “Mordaunt under the microscope” devotes 10 pages to the leadership contest and delves into the claims Mordaunt’s enemies have made about her. This includes questions about her attitude to women and transgender issues, the free press and her Royal Navy credentials – as well as suggesting that she was a “part-time minister”.
The Daily Express reads “Knives out for Penny!” and says there is a “determined bid” amongst Mordaunt’s critics to “wreck” her hopes of becoming prime minister.
Featured
Political red tape is a threat to shooting in Wales
Featured
Firearms licensing failures impeding shooting sector
Former Brexit minister Lord Frost, who is backing Liz Truss, said he had “grave reservations” about Mordaunt’s capabilities in the role of prime minister.
Lord Frost claimed that Mordaunt wasn’t able to grasp details during her time as his deputy, and was unable deliver difficult messages. Boris Johnson had to replace her, he said.
Treasury Secretary Simon Clarke – another Truss backer – said that “Lord Frost’s warning is a really serious one”.
“Conservatives – and, far more importantly, our country – need a leader who is tested and ready”, he said.
Suella Braverman who was eliminated from the process yesterday and is now backing Truss, said Mordaunt had failed to stand up for women and was not an “authentic Brexiteer”.
Mordaunt has been a thorn in Truss’s side throughout the contest, with many urging her to drop out and back Mordaunt who received the second highest amount of MP support in yesterday’s vote.
Truss was 19 votes behind Mordaunt for third place.
The numbers suggest that she will likely make it to the final round of the contest along with Rishi, who is currently leading-runner.
