enny mordaunt has vowed to make defense the government’s “first task” if it triumphs in the Conservative leadership race.
The Minister of Commerce and former Minister of Defense surpassed the Minister of Foreign Affairs Liz Truss after the first ballot by Tory MPsdespite being seen as a relative outlier before the race started.
Writing for the Daily mailMs Mordaunt pledged to honor the UK’s NATO commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defense by 2030 as she said Britain must “hold on” to the nation’s shared values of “strength , honesty and decency, (and) a willingness to stand up for what is right”.
She wrote: “The defense of the empire is the first duty of any government.
“We will stand with NATO in defense of our common values and we will not shy away from the upheaval and put boots on the ground at the borders of the alliance.”
Ms Mordaunt said she would stand firm on the UK’s stance on the war in Ukraine and stressed that Russia “must lose the war”.
“We must maintain our position in Ukraine. No territory can be ceded to Russia,” she said.
“While that will be difficult, we have to be honest with our people that we have to do it for our own safety.”
I have been a member of our armed forces and I am still happy to serve them as an honorary officer. I know perhaps better than any other candidate that our first duty to this country is to defend them
Ms Mordaunt also pledged to establish a National Strategy Council to look at the long-term challenges and opportunities facing the UK, as well as a “civil defense force” of qualified volunteers to be mobilized to assist in major events such as flooding.
“I am incredibly proud of our armed forces,” said Ms. Mordaunt.
“I have been a member of our armed forces and I am still happy to serve them as an honorary officer. I know perhaps better than any other candidate that our first duty to this country is to defend them.
“People can rest assured that this job is safe in my hands.”