Junior ministerial offices

Minister of State for Trade Policy
In office 16 September 2021 – 6 September 2022
Prime Minister	Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Greg Hands
Succeeded by	Conor Burns
Paymaster General
In office 13 February 2020 – 16 September 2021
Prime Minister	Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Oliver Dowden
Succeeded by	Michael Ellis
Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health
In office 15 July 2016 – 9 November 2017
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	Justin Tomlinson
Succeeded by	Sarah Newton
Minister of State for the Armed Forces
In office 11 May 2015 – 15 July 2016
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Mark François
Succeeded by	Mike Penning
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
In office 14 July 2014 – 11 May 2015
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Nick Boles
Succeeded by	James Wharton

Member of Parliament
for Portsmouth North

In office
6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024

Preceded by

Sarah McCarthy-Fry

Succeeded by

Amanda Martin

Personal details

Born

Penelope Mary Mordaunt

4 March 1973 (age 52)
Torquay, Devon, England

Political party

Conservative

Spouse

Paul Murray

(m. 1999; div. 2000)

Alma mater

University of Reading (BA)

Signature

Military service

Allegiance

United Kingdom

Branch/service

Royal Navy

Years of service

2010–2019

Rank

Acting Sub-Lieutenant
(Honorary Captain)

Unit

Royal Naval Reserve

Dame Penelope Mary Mordaunt (born 4 March 1973) is a British politician. She was a Conservative MP for Portsmouth North from 2010 to 2024. She held important roles in the government, including Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. In the 2024 general election, Penny Mordaunt lost her seat in Parliament.

Early Life and Education

Penelope Mordaunt was born on 4 March 1973 in Torquay, Devon, England. Her father was a former paratrooper and later a youth worker. Her mother was a special needs teacher. Penny has a twin brother, James, and a younger brother, Edward.

She went to Oaklands Catholic School in Waterlooville, Hampshire. When she was 15, her mother passed away from breast cancer. Penny became the main caregiver for her younger brother. The next year, her father also had cancer, but he recovered.

To help pay for university, Penny worked in a factory. She also worked as a magician's assistant for Will Ayling. She has said that her interest in politics came from working in hospitals and orphanages in Romania after the 1989 revolution. Penny studied philosophy at the University of Reading and graduated in 1995. She was the first in her family to attend university.

Early Career and Public Service

After university, Penny Mordaunt worked in public relations. She worked for the Conservative Party under leaders John Major and William Hague. She also helped with George W. Bush's presidential campaigns in the United States in 2000 and 2004.

From 2001 to 2003, she was Communications Director for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. She also worked for the Big Lottery Fund from 2003 to 2005. There, she helped create the Veterans Reunited programme. This program allowed service members to visit World War II battlefields. From 2006 to 2009, she was a director at the charity Diabetes UK.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 2003, Penny Mordaunt was chosen to run as the Conservative candidate for Portsmouth North. She lost in the 2005 election but was chosen again for the 2010 election. In 2010, she won the seat and became a MP.

As an MP, she worked on committees like the Defence Committee. She was re-elected in 2015, 2017, and 2019. In the 2019 election, she won with a large majority. She was chosen again to be the Conservative candidate for Portsmouth North in the 2024 general election.

Working in Government

Penny Mordaunt held many important jobs in the government.

Junior Ministerial Roles

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Decentralisation (2014-2015): She worked for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Minister of State for the Armed Forces (2015-2016): She was the first woman to hold this job, which meant she helped look after the UK's military forces.
Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health (2016-2017): She worked at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Secretary of State for International Development (2017-2019)

Penny Mordaunt visiting a refugee camp in Bangladesh in November 2017

In 2017, Penny Mordaunt became the Secretary of State for International Development. This role meant she was in charge of the UK's foreign aid. In 2018, she spoke out about serious problems with how some staff behaved at a charity called Oxfam. She said Oxfam had failed in its "moral leadership" and should have reported the issues to the government.

Minister for Women and Equalities (2018-2019)

In 2018, she also became the Minister for Women and Equalities. In this role, she worked on issues related to women's rights and equality. In July 2018, she became the first minister to use sign language in the House of Commons, which was applauded by other MPs.

Secretary of State for Defence (2019)

Penny Mordaunt in 2019

In May 2019, Penny Mordaunt was appointed the first female Secretary of State for Defence. This meant she was the head of the UK's military and defence. She held this role for 85 days. When Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, she left this position.

Returning to Government (2020-2022)

In February 2020, she returned to government as Paymaster General. This role involves managing government payments. In 2021, she became Minister of State for Trade Policy, helping with the UK's trade deals.

Leader of the House of Commons (2022-2024)

Penny Mordaunt, as Lord President of the Council, at the Accession Council of King Charles III

On 6 September 2022, Penny Mordaunt was appointed Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. As Lord President, she played a key role in the ceremony where King Charles III was officially proclaimed King after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

She kept these roles when Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister. On 6 May 2023, she had a very important part in the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. She presented the Jewelled Sword of Offering to the King. She was the first woman to do this. Her outfit and her strength in carrying the heavy sword were widely praised. She said her navy training helped her.

In May 2024, her office released a guide about conspiracy theories. This guide warned that such theories could be dangerous for democracy. During the 2024 general election campaign, she took part in several TV debates. In these debates, she discussed different political plans and also commented on Prime Minister Sunak leaving D-Day events early, saying it was "completely wrong."

In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Penny Mordaunt lost her seat in Portsmouth North to the Labour candidate, Amanda Martin. She was one of many well-known Conservative politicians who lost their seats in this election.

Conservative Party Leadership Bids

Penny Mordaunt ran twice to become the leader of the Conservative Party. If she had won, she would have become the Prime Minister of the UK.

July–September 2022 Leadership Bid

Penny Mordaunt's 2022 leadership logo

In July 2022, after Boris Johnson resigned, Penny Mordaunt announced she wanted to be the next Conservative leader. Her campaign video caused some discussion because it included footage of people who asked to be removed. She edited the video to remove these parts.

She was one of eight candidates who got enough support from other MPs. However, she was eliminated in the final round of voting among Conservative MPs. She then supported Liz Truss, who became Prime Minister.

October 2022 Leadership Bid

After Liz Truss resigned in October 2022, Penny Mordaunt tried again to become the Conservative leader. However, she did not get enough support from MPs to continue in the race. She pulled out of the election, which meant Rishi Sunak became the leader without anyone opposing him. After this, she was re-appointed to her role as Leader of the House of Commons by Rishi Sunak.

Life After Parliament

In April 2025, Penny Mordaunt started new part-time jobs. She joined the advisory board for British American Tobacco and also began working for a maritime technology company called Sub Sea Craft Limited.

Military Service

Penny Mordaunt was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve from 2010 to 2019. She served as an acting sub-lieutenant. In 2015, she was placed on a special list for personnel who couldn't do annual training. She left the Royal Naval Reserve in April 2019. She was given the honorary rank of Commander in 2019 and then honorary Captain in 2021.

Other Activities and Views

Splash! TV Appearance

In 2014, Penny Mordaunt appeared on the TV show Splash!, where celebrities learn to dive. She donated all of her earnings from the show to charity. Part of the money went to renovate her local swimming pool, and the rest went to charities supporting armed services.

Brexit Views

Penny Mordaunt supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum, which was about the UK leaving the European Union.

Northern Ireland

She voted to make same-sex marriage legal in Northern Ireland. She has also said that the rules for Northern Ireland after Brexit create problems for the region.

Homeopathy

Penny Mordaunt has supported the idea that the British National Health Service should fund homeopathy, which is a type of alternative medicine.

Royal Yachts

In 2020, Penny Mordaunt suggested creating new ships for the UK. These ships would be used for trade, research, and helping people in need. They could also be used by the royal family for visits.

Vandalism of War Memorials

In June 2020, after some war memorials were damaged, Penny Mordaunt suggested that people found guilty of vandalizing them should spend time with military personnel. She thought this might help them understand the sacrifices made by service members.

Personal Life

Penny Mordaunt is a member of the British Astronomical Association. She is also the chair of the Wymering Manor Trust in Portsmouth. She volunteered at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth for eight years. She is a supporter of the Music Man Project, a charity that helps people with learning disabilities enjoy music. After the conflict in Ukraine began, she welcomed a Ukrainian refugee into her home.

Penny Mordaunt married Paul Murray in 1999, but they divorced the following year. Her hobbies include astronomy, painting, dance, and music. She owns four Burmese cats. In July 2022, police investigated threats made against her. She increased her security after receiving a threatening letter.

Awards and Recognition

: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (awarded on 13 June 2025)
: King Charles III Coronation Medal

Penny Mordaunt facts for kids

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