Penny Mordaunt Beats Rishi Sunak in Tory Members Poll

Penny Mordaunt Beats Rishi Sunak in Tory Members Poll

Penny Mordaunt beats Rishi Sunak in poll of Tory members to find favorite replacement for Boris Johnson

  • The former defense secretary was the favorite of 20 percent of Tory members
  • Kemi Badenoch was a close second at 19 percent – ahead of Rishi Sunak at 12
  • The poll comes after a rocky start, including a row over her stance on trans rights
  • One supporter said she was ‘not a awake warrior – she’s more of a freedom lioness’

Through Claire Ellicott Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail

Published: † Updated:

Penny Mordaunt topped a poll among Tory party members last night about who should be the next leader.

The former Minister of Defence was supported by 20 percent, followed by former local government minister Kemi Badenoch with 19 percent and Rishi Sunak at 12 percent.

Attorney General Suella Braverman and Minister of Foreign Affairs Liz Truss both received 10 percent support in the Conservative Home poll.

The results will worry Miss Mordaunt’s rivals, 49, as Conservative members will decide between the latter two candidates after being downsized by MPs.

Sunak is currently ahead of MP nominations, with 40 compared to Miss Mordaunt’s 26.

Penny Mordaunt, 49, led a poll of Conservative Party members conducted by Conservative Home

Penny Mordaunt, 49, led a poll of Conservative Party members conducted by Conservative Home

Kemi Badenoch, 42, was just one point behind Ms Mordaunt at 19 percent in the poll

Kemi Badenoch, 42, was just one point behind Ms Mordaunt at 19 percent in the poll

It came when she tried to get her faltering campaign back on track after being branded a “devoted warrior for the trans lobby” and forced to edit her “PM 4 PM” video to remove killer runner Oscar Pistorius.

Miss Mordaunt last night insisted she can help the Conservatives break through the ‘yellow wall’ and ultimately defeat the SNP in Scotland.

She pledged to work with the Scottish Tories to “turn the tide” north of the border.

She went on to say she could win votes across “the yellow wall, the red wall, the blue wall and the whole of the UK”.

She previously posted a series of Twitter posts reflecting on attacks after declaring that “trans women are women.”

She emphasized that there was a difference between “biological women” and those who are “legally female”, while pointing out that she had “fought for women’s rights all my life.”

Campaign group Conservatives for Women had said of Ms Mordaunt: “She has always been a committed fighter for the trans lobby.

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, 42, considered one of the frontrunners in the race, followed with just 12 percent

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, 42, considered one of the frontrunners in the race, followed with just 12 percent

Her promotion of mantras and the inability to see how this could wreak havoc on women’s rights and children raises questions about her judgment.”

Two of Miss Mordaunt’s main supporters criticized attacks on her. Former Science Secretary George Freeman told Times Radio: “When it comes to gender, she’s been absolutely clear that a woman is a woman.

“Women need to know that their gender is legally sacred and protected. And she made that clear.’

He emphasized, “Penny Mordaunt isn’t a vigilant warrior—she’s more of a freedom lioness.”

Former Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom acknowledged that ‘mud sticks’ when she pleaded for rival Tory camps to bring down the temperature in the battle for number 10.

TORY LEADERSHIP RACE – TIME SCHEDULE

The chairman of the 1922 committee, Graham Brady, set the timetable for Monday as follows:

TUESDAY JULY 12 – NOMINATIONS, FIRST ELIMINATIONS

Nominations to become the new leader of the Conservative Party formally open and close. Candidates must have the support of at least 20 lawmakers to proceed.

WEDNESDAY 13 JULY – MORE CANDIDATES PASSED

In this first round of voting, candidates must have the support of at least 30 lawmakers to proceed.

UNTIL THURSDAY 21 JULY – FURTHER VOTING

Brady said there would be more rounds of voting by Conservative lawmakers until the final two were reached, and said it was likely the final two would be selected early next week.

THURSDAY JULY 21 – PARLIAMENTARY RECESSION

Lawmakers in the 1922 commission have said July 21 is the actual deadline for the last two candidates to be selected by Conservative lawmakers, much like when the House of Commons breaks for summer recess. Brady told Sky News they would “definitely” have the last two by July 21.

JULY-SEPTEMBER – THE RUN-OFF

The two candidates are campaigning and holding hustings among conservative party members to win their votes. Members vote by mail. Brady said he wanted assurances that those who made it to the last two would not drop out, to ensure Conservative members had a say.

SEPTEMBER 5 – NEW PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES

The Conservative Party announces who has been elected by its members as the party’s new leader. As they will gain a parliamentary majority, they will consequently become the next prime minister.