Penny Mordaunt

After Sunak, who?

20 August 2023 5:54 pm

Nothing happens, and nothing happens, and then everything happens, the author Fay Weldon once declared. This observation about life’s tendency…

The Spectator's notes

13 May 2023 9:00 am

Penny reign: why Mordaunt is the kingmaker

21 October 2022 9:27 pm

Tory MPs will likely have three candidates to vote for in Monday’s leadership race: Boris Johnson, Penny Mordaunt and Rishi…

The political cunning of Elizabeth II: BBC1's The Longest Reign – The Queen and Her People reviewed

17 September 2022 9:00 am

In all the tributes to Her late Majesty’s constancy, dignity, wisdom and devotion to duty, not enough has been said…

The high price of failure

23 July 2022 9:00 am

I was listening to a rich bastard on the radio explaining why he was feeling disinclined to give any more…

Last ones standing: the leadership finalists on taxes, net zero and freedom of speech

23 July 2022 9:00 am

The leadership candidates on taxes, net zero and freedom of speech

Who can read Penny Mordaunt?

23 July 2022 9:00 am

Whitehall is telling ministers that this is a ‘caretaker’ government and so, by convention, cannot take decisions. This is not…

Sunak and Truss make final two – as it happened

20 July 2022 11:31 pm

Britain’s next Prime Minister will be either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss. Refresh this page for the latest developments. 4.45…

The latest Tory leadership debate was a grim spectacle

18 July 2022 3:00 pm

The eyes had it, in last night’s leadership debate. Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak took turns directing to the camera…

The verdict: the second Tory leadership debate

18 July 2022 5:28 am

‘If you’re still watching this debate, well done,’ said Mordaunt, bizarrely, in her closing statement. ‘I wish tonight had been…

Penny Mordaunt's worst trait

17 July 2022 10:40 pm

Right-wingers appear not to be terribly keen on Penny Mordaunt. Toby Young read her book Greater: Britain After the Storm…

Sunday shows round-up: Penny under the spotlight

17 July 2022 8:49 pm

Penny Mordaunt – I’m being smeared over self-ID claims No Conservative party leadership race is ever without drama. With the…

The triumph of Tory mediocrity

14 July 2022 7:40 pm

Every loser wins, once the dream begins. So sang the EastEnders actor Nick Berry in a godawful mid-1980s pop song…

Penny Mordaunt's trans problem

11 July 2022 5:56 am

The Tory leadership contest is yet to officially begin, but things are already turning nasty. As well as reports in…

Penny Mordaunt's embarrassing start

10 July 2022 8:08 pm

Penny Mordaunt, the second-favourite to be the next Prime Minister, has declared that she’s running – via a video where…

Penny Mordaunt changes tack on trans rights

10 July 2022 5:53 pm

Penny Mordaunt has had a good start to the leadership race, storming into second place with 16 names, even though…

Penny Mordaunt: I’m fired. Job done

3 August 2019 9:00 am

I begin the week in Bamako, Mali, with a crackly telephone call to Commodore Dean Bassett, UK Maritime Component Commander…

Rachel Johnson: Getting sacked is a badge of honour. And I should know

15 September 2018 9:00 am

People are still asking ‘So, how was your summer’ and mine was nice as far as it went: I didn’t…

David Cameron's misogynistic reshuffle

19 July 2014 9:00 am

The PM doesn’t want the new women in his cabinet to do anything but look nice