Tory leadership favourite, Ms Mordaud, told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby that she was “running a positive campaign” and warned her rivals that “we must not judge each other”. The Trade Secretary also accused others of being involved in “black business” and suggested this approach could damage the Conservative Party in the future. “People are obviously trying to stop me from getting into the final because they don’t want to come against me,” he said. Meanwhile, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was not afraid to face any of the remaining candidates at the ballot box, adding: “The new start we need for Britain is a change of government.” Politics Hub: The latest reaction from Westminster as the field to become next PM narrows Taking a swipe at other Tories, including former Brexit minister Lord Frost, for not being fit enough to be prime minister, Ms Mordaunt continued: “People will try to stop me, and rightly so. That’s rightly so. Anyone who wants that work must be checked and examined.
More on Beth Rigby’s interviews
“You will see from my campaign that I am not involved in any of this. “I’m running a positive campaign and speaking in that campaign about the issues that concern the public. “People are already worried – and looking ahead to autumn – about the cost of living. “I would talk about the merits of my approach, which is to not just win this contest, but to win the general election. “And that’s why I’m not involved in any of this black business.” Ms Mordaunt added that she would tell her competitors that they “might want to think about doing the same” because “the worst thing would be to come out of this competition not in good shape”. Read more: Who is Penny Mordaunt? Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:29 “This is Penny Mordaunt’s moment” Ms Mordaunt told Sky News that all her running mates “have a lot of great qualities” and that she has “tremendous respect” for all of them. But she suggested, possibly in a slight dig at some of her opponents, that her life experiences put her in a better position to oversee solutions to the challenges facing households. “I’m not going to make any comment about other candidates,” Ms Mordaunt said. “What I think I bring … my strengths are that I’ve experienced a lot of hardship in my life and I think that’s important and helps you understand how to better serve people.” She added that her campaign was “not just about one leader at the top”, adding: “We have to build a team, we have to have smart people around that top table.” Earlier this week, Ms Mordaunt suffered her first campaign setback when she was attacked by MPs over her stance on transgender issues. The former defense secretary has angered traditional Tories in the past by speaking out in favor of transgender rights and gender recognition. Subscribe to the Beth Rigby Interviews podcast… on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker Speaking to Sky News, Ms Mordaunt said “Westminster is tying the knot” over whether women have the right to ban trans women from single-sex venues. “I think we need to focus on the big issues that worry — and in some cases scare — the public,” he said. “The huge cost of living that we have, the access to health care, just the services that they want to see run really effectively by the state. “I understand why people are trying to stop me from making it to the bottom two, but I’m going to stay focused on the things that matter to the public and the people we’re here to serve. “They care about these issues, but they’re not what they want their government to obsess over. “They want us to focus on helping them deal with this cost of living situation and getting them access to the NHS that they pay a lot of money for, and all the other things that they want to help support their lives.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 4:16 Sunak and Mordaunt lead the leadership race Ms Mordaunt added: “Some people who are born male will go through a gender transition process and are issued a legal document in their new gender. “They are not biological women like me, but the law recognizes them in their new gender and that is very plain and simple – and Westminster is tying knots over it.” Asked if trans women can legally be women, she continued: “Legally but not biologically. And we’re not equal in that regard.”
Mordaunt is back on stage and on track to become prime minister
Until this week, you probably had never heard of Penny Mordaunt. Why; He has not been in Boris Johnson’s cabinet and does not have much of a public profile. It’s a policy best remembered for its appearance on the television series Splash! in 2014, when she fell flat on her stomach in prime time. But Ms Mordaunt is now well back on the scene, having breezed through the first two rounds of the Conservative leadership race, falling to second place behind Rishi Sunak and becoming the candidate both former chancellor and foreign secretary Liz Truss fear that anymore. If she can make it to the final two candidates in the coming days, she is well on her way to becoming the next prime minister, edging out both Ms Truss and Mr Sunak with the party members who will decide this race. But who is she, what does she represent, and does she have what it takes to get the job done? That’s what I learned in our interview — the first extended televised grilling she’s done since announcing her candidacy. What I learned was pretty clear. Penny Mordaunt has been preparing for this for some time – she is well prepared. This is not a campaign based on the hope of raising her own profile to secure a good cabinet position. He thinks he can win. He believes he could be the next prime minister. Of course, all candidates will claim this – but in reality, not all believe it. She is doing. That kind of confidence is vital in a brutal fight like this. But it is not enough by itself. Big questions remain about whether he has the political experience to take the top job. It comes as the five remaining candidates in the leadership race prepare to face off in the first live televised debate tonight. Channel 4 will broadcast the showdown at 7.30pm, followed by another debate on ITV on Sunday. Sky News will host a third debate on Tuesday night at 8pm. Ms Mordaunt pledged to join this debate. Candidates still in the running are Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch, after Suella Braverman was knocked out yesterday. Mr Sunack came first in the second vote of Tory MPs – with Ms Mordaud second and Truss third. However, polls show Mrs Mordaunt is the most popular among Tory members – and remains the betting favorite to become the next prime minister. Labour’s Sir Keir accused the bottom five of “fighting like cats in the bag” and “making ridiculous spending commitments” while his party is “united [and] ready for elections”. Speaking on a visit to Germany to meet the country’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he added: “We are not afraid of any of the candidates, because the change the UK needs is not a change at the top of the Conservative Party. “We’ve already had 12 years of failure from the Conservative Party. The change we need, the new start we need for Britain is a change of government.” The contest will narrow further on Monday when the third round of voting takes place. The final two leadership contenders will emerge by the end of next week and then face a summer of upheavals – with Conservative Party members having the chance to decide who will be the next prime minister. The winner will be announced on September 5 – and Mr Johnson will remain in Number 10 as caretaker prime minister until then. Sky News is hosting a live televised debate with the candidates vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore prime minister, and you could be in the virtual audience. The debate will take place on Tuesday 19 July at 20.00. If you would like to join the virtual audience and have the chance to ask a question, please email [email protected]
