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

Penelope Mary "Penny" Mordaunt (born 4 March 1973) is a British former Conservative politician. She served as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons from 2022 to 2024. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth North from 2010 to 2024.

Penny Mordaunt studied philosophy at the University of Reading. Before becoming an MP, she worked in public relations. She also worked for Conservative Party leaders John Major and William Hague. She was even involved in George W. Bush's presidential campaigns in the United States.

She was first elected to the House of Commons in 2010. She held several important roles in government, including Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for International Development. She also ran to become the leader of the Conservative Party twice in 2022. In the 2024 general election, Penny Mordaunt lost her seat in Parliament.

Early Life and Education

Penny Mordaunt was born on 4 March 1973 in Torquay, Devon, England. Her father, John Mordaunt, was a soldier in the Parachute Regiment before becoming a teacher and youth worker. Her mother, Jennifer, taught children with special needs.

Penny has a twin brother, James, and a younger brother, Edward. She went to Oaklands Roman Catholic School in Waterlooville, Hampshire. She also studied drama at the Victoryland Theatre School.

When Penny was 15, her mother passed away from breast cancer. Penny then became the main caregiver for her younger brother. The next year, her father also had cancer, but he recovered. Penny has said that her interest in politics grew from her experiences working in hospitals and orphanages in Romania after the 1989 revolution there.

She studied philosophy at the University of Reading and graduated in 1995. While at university, she was very active in student politics and was the president of the Reading University Students' Union.

Starting Her Career

After university, Penny Mordaunt worked in public relations. She worked for the Conservative Party as Head of Youth under Prime Minister John Major. Later, she was Head of Broadcasting for the Conservatives under William Hague from 1999 to 2001.

She also worked for the Freight Transport Association from 1997 to 1999. In 2000, she briefly worked for George W. Bush's presidential campaign, helping with foreign press.

From 2001 to 2003, she was Communications Director for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. She then helped set up a new website called 'virtualconservatives'. From 2004 to 2006, she was a director at Media Intelligence Partners.

Penny Mordaunt also worked for the Community Fund, which later became the Big Lottery Fund. She helped create the Veterans Reunited programme. This program allowed service members to visit World War II battlefields and take part in special events. She worked for the Big Lottery Fund from 2003 to 2005. 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 in the 2005 general election. She did well but lost to the Labour candidate, Sarah McCarthy-Fry.

She was chosen again to run for Portsmouth North in the 2010 general election. This time, she won the seat with a large majority. After being elected in 2010, she joined the Public Bill Committee for the Defence Reform Act 2014. In Parliament, she also served on committees related to defence and European scrutiny.

She was re-elected as the MP for Portsmouth North in the 2015, 2017, and 2019 general elections, each time with a strong majority. In February 2024, she was again chosen as the Conservative candidate for Portsmouth North for the 2024 general election. However, she lost her seat in that election.

Important Government Roles

In 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Penny Mordaunt as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Decentralisation. This role was in the Department for Communities and Local Government. During this time, there was a disagreement with firefighters about their pensions.

In May 2015, she became Minister of State for the Armed Forces. She was the first woman to hold this important position. In July 2016, when Theresa May became prime minister, Penny Mordaunt was appointed Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health.

Helping Countries in Need

Mordaunt visiting Kutupalong in Bangladesh in November 2017

On 9 November 2017, Penny Mordaunt was promoted to a senior role in the Cabinet. She became Secretary of State for International Development. This job involves leading the government's work to help poorer countries around the world.

In 2018, there were concerns about how aid money was used by the charity Oxfam. Penny Mordaunt stated that Oxfam had failed in its "moral leadership" and did "absolutely the wrong thing" by not reporting details to the government.

Supporting Women and Equality

In April 2018, Penny Mordaunt also became Minister for Women and Equalities. This role focuses on making sure everyone has fair opportunities, regardless of their gender. In July 2018, she made history by being the first minister to use sign language in the House of Commons.

Leading the Defence Department

Mordaunt in 2019

On 1 May 2019, Penny Mordaunt was appointed as the first female Secretary of State for Defence. This means she was in charge of the UK's armed forces. She replaced Gavin Williamson. She held this role for 85 days. When Boris Johnson became the new prime minister, he removed her from this position.

Back in Government

In February 2020, Penny Mordaunt returned to government. She joined the Cabinet Office as Paymaster General. This role involves managing government payments and finances. She also worked on the committee for the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

In 2021, she was appointed Minister of State for Trade Policy. This job focuses on developing the UK's trade relationships with other countries.

Leading the House of Commons

Mordaunt, as Lord President of the Council, arriving 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. The Leader of the House of Commons helps manage the government's business in Parliament. The Lord President of the Council is a very old and important ceremonial role.

Four days later, as Lord President of the Council, she led the Accession Council ceremony for King Charles III. This was a historic event where the new King was formally announced. When Liz Truss resigned as prime minister, Penny Mordaunt kept her roles under the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak.

On 6 May 2023, Penny Mordaunt had a notable role in the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. She presented the Jewelled Sword of Offering to the King. She was the first woman ever 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, before the general election, her office released a guide about conspiracy theories. During the election campaign, she took part in TV debates, discussing topics like tax plans and criticizing Prime Minister Sunak for leaving D-Day events early.

In the 2024 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.

Running for Leader

July–September 2022 Leadership Bid

Mordaunt's 2022 leadership logo

In July 2022, after Boris Johnson resigned as prime minister, Penny Mordaunt decided to run to become the next leader of the Conservative Party. If she won, she would also become the UK Prime Minister.

She was one of eight candidates who received enough support from other Members of Parliament to enter the contest. However, on 20 July, she was eliminated in the final round of voting among Conservative MPs. She then supported Liz Truss in the last stage of the contest.

October 2022 Leadership Bid

Mordaunt meeting with Rishi Sunak

After Liz Truss resigned as prime minister in October 2022, Penny Mordaunt announced she would try again to become the Conservative Party leader. However, she did not get enough support from MPs to continue. She withdrew from the election, which allowed Rishi Sunak to become leader without anyone opposing him. Penny Mordaunt was later re-appointed to her government roles by Rishi Sunak.

Military Service

Penny Mordaunt was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve from 2010 to 2019. She served as an acting sub-lieutenant and was based at a naval base in Portsmouth.

In May 2015, she was placed on a special list for personnel who cannot meet annual training commitments. She did not receive pay from the Royal Navy during this time. She left the Royal Naval Reserve in April 2019. She was given the honorary rank of commander in April 2019, and then promoted to honorary captain in June 2021.

Other Activities and Interests

Splash! Appearance

In 2014, Penny Mordaunt appeared on a TV show called Splash!, where celebrities learn to dive. She donated all of her earnings from the show, £10,000, to charity. Part of the money went to renovate her local swimming pool, and the rest went to four charities that help armed services.

Brexit Views

In the 2016 vote on whether the UK should leave the European Union (called Brexit), Penny Mordaunt supported leaving. She believed that the UK should become independent from the EU.

Northern Ireland

Penny Mordaunt voted to make same-sex marriage legal in Northern Ireland. She has also spoken in Parliament about how the rules for Northern Ireland after Brexit have created some challenges for the region.

Royal Yachts

In June 2020, Penny Mordaunt suggested building two new ships for the UK. These ships would be used for trade, research, and helping people in need around the world. They could also be used by the royal family when they visit other countries. She said these ships would help show Britain's image around the world.

Personal Life

Penny Mordaunt has been a member of the British Astronomical Association, which is for people interested in space. She was also the chair of the Wymering Manor Trust in Portsmouth. For eight years, she ran a team that visited patients at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. She is also a supporter of the Music Man Project, a charity that helps people with learning disabilities enjoy music. After the conflict in Ukraine, she welcomed a Ukrainian refugee into her home.

Penny Mordaunt met Paul Murray at university, and they married in 1999, but they divorced the following year. Her hobbies include astronomy, painting, dance, and music. She owns four Burmese cats.

Decorations

: King Charles III Coronation Medal

Images for kids

Penny Mordaunt's signature

Penny Mordaunt facts for kids

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