Conservative leadership race: Who is Penny Mordaunt?
Penny Mordaunt has narrowed the gap with Rishi Sunak and increased her lead over Liz Truss in the second round of voting by Tory MPs in the contest to be party leader and prime minister.
The former defence secretary won 83 votes, while the frontrunner, the former chancellor, won 101 – a gap of 18, three lower than the gap yesterday after the first round.
But Suella Braverman, who was knocked out of the contest, announced she would now back Ms Truss, and if her supporters did the same, the foreign secretary would rival Ms Mordaunt for support.
Ms Braverman, who said she made the decision after holding talks with Ms Truss, earlier singled out Ms Mordaunt for criticism, accusing her of failing to stand up for women in her apparent support of trans rights issues and of not being an “authentic Brexiteer”.
Tom Tugendhat vowed to fight on, despite receiving the backing of just 32 Conservative MPs, as the remaining candidates prepare for two televised debates.
Liz Truss boosted by backing of ousted Suella Braverman
Suella Braverman says she will back Liz Truss to be the new Conservative leader after being ousted in the race to succeed Boris Johnson – in a move that dramatically heightens the stakes.
If Ms Braverman’s backers do likewise, the support will bring the foreign secretary within touching distance of second-placed Penny Mordaunt and boost Ms Truss’s campaign.
Sources have told The Independent the attorney-general will lend her vote to the foreign secretary in the third round of the battle to be PM.
My colleagues Jane Dalton and Chris Baynes have more details here:
Suella Braverman backs Liz Truss after being ousted from Tory leadership race
Support means foreign secretary could be big threat to second-placed Penny Mordaunt
Stuti Mishra15 July 2022 05:32
‘No intention of stepping down’, Badenoch’s campaign says
Kemi Badenoch’s campaign said she is “in it to win” and has no intention of stepping down, after former Brexit minister Lord Frost’s called for her to quit the Tory leadership race in favour of Liz Truss.
In a statement, Ms Badenoch’s spokesperson said: “Kemi has brought interesting ideas and a new approach to this leadership contest. She is looking forward to the debates this weekend.”
Stuti Mishra15 July 2022 05:15
Tory leadership candidates urged to halt Channel 4 privatisation plans
Firms including those behind popular TV programmes such as Peaky Blinders, The Crown, and Ackley Bridge, have written an open letter to the candidates, adding their support to a campaign launched last month, co-ordinated by We Own It.
The 16 independent production companies are asking the candidates to commit to dropping the privatisation plan for Channel 4.
They believe the election of a new Prime Minister offers an opportunity to keep Channel 4 in public hands.
The open letter highlights that as a publicly owned broadcaster funded through advertising, Channel 4 does not cost the taxpayer a penny, instead returning a profit of £74 million last year and contributing £1 billion to the economy, supporting 10,000 jobs and 15,000 training opportunities.
Matthew Topham, We Own It lead campaigner, said: “Channel 4 is the levelling-up broadcaster. Its unique business model makes working in TV and film production a realistic dream, no matter where you live in the UK.”
“Right now, Channel 4 supports 10,000 jobs, with hubs in Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, and Cardiff, but cuts to one in three regional jobs are predicted under a private Channel 4, and 60 independent production companies are expected to go bust if the plans go ahead.”
Read More: Tory leadership latest: Mordaunt gains ground on Sunak as Braverman ousted in second round