Penny Mordaunt
Encyclopedia
Penelope Mary Mordaunt MP (born 4 March 1973) is a British Conservative Party
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Portsmouth North since winning the seat at the 2010 United Kingdom general election. She previously stood unsuccessfully for the same seat in the 2005 election
.
in 1975, when she was aged two. She was educated at Oaklands RC Comprehensive School, Waterlooville
, and then read philosophy
at the University of Reading
. Her interest in politics
is attributed to her experiences of working in hospital
s and orphanage
s in Romania
after the 1989 revolution
. After leaving university, she began a career in communications. She was communications director for Kensington and Chelsea Council, the Freight Transport Association
and the National Lottery
. She was also director of campaigns for Diabetes UK
. She is an associate of Hanover Communications, a public affairs company.
Mordaunt has also worked with several high-profile politicians. Under Prime Minister
John Major
she was Head of Youth for the Conservative Party, whilst she had a two-year spell as Head of Broadcasting under party leader
William Hague
. In 2000, she was Head of Foreign Press for George W. Bush
's presidential campaign
, and she worked for the Bush campaign again in 2004. After the 2005 election she worked as a chief of staff for David Willets' leadership campaign.
. She managed to attain a 5.5% swing towards the Conservatives but lost to Labour
candidate Sarah McCarthy-Fry
by 1,139 votes. It was claimed by the United Kingdom Independence Party
that Mordaunt ascribed her defeat to UKIP candidate Michael Keith Smith
who got 1,348 votes, a claim also made by Richard North of the Bruges Group
.
She was a critic of women only shortlists.
Mordaunt was re-selected in January 2006 to contest Portsmouth North for the 2010 general election. She proposed standing for Mayor of London
as a commuter mayor. In the 2010 general election, she won the seat with a 8.6% swing from Labour, giving her a 7,289 majority.
, having signed an early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service
.
photo shoot during March 2010. The photoshoot, dubbed by the UK's Daily Mail
as featuring 'Cameron's Cuties', featured Mordaunt posing in designer attire, alongside twelve other female, Conservative, prospective parliamentary candidates. Amanda Platell
, writing in the newspaper, was fiercely critical of the stunt, arguing that many candidates such as Mordaunt "have been chosen for the wrong reason: to carry David Cameron's message that the Tories have changed. Not changed their principles, but their appearance." Platell also criticised the "gushing apple-pie naivete" of other female PPCs (Prospective Parliamentary Candidates).
Within the article, Mordaunt revealed that she had worked in the past as a magician's assistant. She also was quoted to say, "I joined the party in part because I lost a parent and had to help look after the house and my youngest brother. We weren't well off and that's why I believe in low taxation."
with her brother, James. She also has another brother, Edward. She currently lives in Port Solent (Portsmouth, Paulsgrove Ward).
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Portsmouth North since winning the seat at the 2010 United Kingdom general election. She previously stood unsuccessfully for the same seat in the 2005 election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
.
Biography
Mordaunt's family moved to PortsmouthPortsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
in 1975, when she was aged two. She was educated at Oaklands RC Comprehensive School, Waterlooville
Oaklands Catholic School
Oaklands Catholic School is a Roman Catholic voluntary comprehensive coeducational school and sixth form college located in Waterlooville, Hampshire. It opened in 1966, although its history can be traced back to 1902. Around 1300 students attend the school with over 150 in the Sixth Form. Oaklands...
, and then read philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
. Her interest in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
is attributed to her experiences of working in hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
after the 1989 revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
. After leaving university, she began a career in communications. She was communications director for Kensington and Chelsea Council, the Freight Transport Association
Freight Transport Association
The Freight Transport Association traces its roots back to 1889: its mission is to represent the views and interests of over 13,000 companies: from large multinationals and household names to small and medium businesses...
and the National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
. She was also director of campaigns for Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is a patient, healthcare professional and research charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes and to working towards a future without the chronic condition diabetes....
. She is an associate of Hanover Communications, a public affairs company.
Mordaunt has also worked with several high-profile politicians. Under Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
she was Head of Youth for the Conservative Party, whilst she had a two-year spell as Head of Broadcasting under party leader
Leaders of the Conservative Party
The Leader of the Conservative Party is the most senior politician within the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. The post is currently held by David Cameron, who s eeded Michael Howard in 2005, and who since 2010 is also the serving Prime Minister....
William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
. In 2000, she was Head of Foreign Press for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's presidential campaign
George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000
This article is about the 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush, winner of the 2000 presidential election and re-elected in the 2004 election.See George W. Bush for a detailed biography and information about his presidency, and George W...
, and she worked for the Bush campaign again in 2004. After the 2005 election she worked as a chief of staff for David Willets' leadership campaign.
Politics
In November 2003, Mordaunt was selected as Conservative candidate to contest Portsmouth North in the 2005 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. She managed to attain a 5.5% swing towards the Conservatives but lost to Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate Sarah McCarthy-Fry
Sarah McCarthy-Fry
Sarah McCarthy-Fry is a British Labour Co-operative politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North from 2005 to 2010. McCarthy-Fry was the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in the last Labour government.-Early life:...
by 1,139 votes. It was claimed by the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
that Mordaunt ascribed her defeat to UKIP candidate Michael Keith Smith
Michael Keith Smith
Michael Keith Smith , commonly known as Mike Smith, had been founder-chairman of the Conservative Democratic Alliance, a British right-wing pressure group. He was also the successful claimant in Keith-Smith v Williams, a landmark English libel case in 2006 that confirmed that existing libel laws...
who got 1,348 votes, a claim also made by Richard North of the Bruges Group
Bruges Group
The Bruges Group is a think tank based in the United Kingdom.The group is often associated with the Conservative Party, though it is independent of it and remains an all-party organisation...
.
She was a critic of women only shortlists.
Mordaunt was re-selected in January 2006 to contest Portsmouth North for the 2010 general election. She proposed standing for Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
as a commuter mayor. In the 2010 general election, she won the seat with a 8.6% swing from Labour, giving her a 7,289 majority.
Alternative medicine
She is a supporter of homeopathyHomeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
, having signed an early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
.
Media appearances and press criticism
Mordaunt participated in a Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
photo shoot during March 2010. The photoshoot, dubbed by the UK's Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
as featuring 'Cameron's Cuties', featured Mordaunt posing in designer attire, alongside twelve other female, Conservative, prospective parliamentary candidates. Amanda Platell
Amanda Platell
Amanda Jane Platell is a British-based Australian journalist, and from 1999 to 2001 was the press secretary to William Hague, the then leader of the British Conservative Party.-Early life:...
, writing in the newspaper, was fiercely critical of the stunt, arguing that many candidates such as Mordaunt "have been chosen for the wrong reason: to carry David Cameron's message that the Tories have changed. Not changed their principles, but their appearance." Platell also criticised the "gushing apple-pie naivete" of other female PPCs (Prospective Parliamentary Candidates).
Within the article, Mordaunt revealed that she had worked in the past as a magician's assistant. She also was quoted to say, "I joined the party in part because I lost a parent and had to help look after the house and my youngest brother. We weren't well off and that's why I believe in low taxation."
Personal life
Mordaunt is a twinTwin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
with her brother, James. She also has another brother, Edward. She currently lives in Port Solent (Portsmouth, Paulsgrove Ward).
External links
- Mordaunt official website
- Penny Mordaunt at the Conservative Party