Penny Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt: biography

Penny Mordaunt is a British politician who is a member of the Conservative Party and has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth North since 2010. Mordaunt has held a number of positions in government, including serving as Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health from 2015 to 2016, Minister of State for Armed Forces from 2017 to 2019, and Secretary of State for International Development from 2019 to 2020.

Childhood and youth

Penny Mordaunt was born on March 4, 1973, in Torquay, Devon, England. She grew up in a military family, as her father was a paratrooper in the British Army. Her family moved around frequently during her childhood, living in locations such as Germany, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Mordaunt attended Oaklands Roman Catholic School in Waterlooville, Hampshire, and later studied Philosophy at the University of Reading.

Mordaunt's interest in politics and public service began at a young age, and she joined the Conservative Party at the age of 16. In her early twenties, she worked as a magician's assistant, performing in various venues across the country. She has cited this experience as having taught her valuable skills such as communication and public speaking.

In addition to her work as a magician's assistant, Mordaunt also worked as a community worker and as a communications consultant for various organizations. She became involved in local politics in the mid-1990s, and was elected to Portsmouth City Council in 1998. She served on the council for over a decade, and was elected as the council's youngest ever leader in 2002.

Mordaunt's upbringing in a military family has had a profound impact on her life and career. She has spoken openly about the challenges faced by military families, and has been a vocal advocate for better support and resources for veterans and their families. Her experience as a Royal Navy Reservist has also informed her work in government, particularly in her role as Minister of State for Armed Forces from 2017 to 2019.

Political career

Penny Mordaunt's political career began in 1998 when she was elected to Portsmouth City Council. She served on the council for over a decade and was elected as the council's youngest ever leader in 2002. In 2010, Mordaunt was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth North, representing the Conservative Party. She has been re-elected in every subsequent general election since.

Mordaunt's first ministerial appointment came in 2015 when she was appointed as Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health in the Department for Work and Pensions. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the government's welfare reform agenda and for improving employment opportunities for disabled people.

In 2017, Mordaunt was appointed as Minister of State for Armed Forces in the Ministry of Defence. In this role, she oversaw the government's defence policy and was responsible for ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of service personnel and their families. Mordaunt was the first woman to hold this role in the UK government.

In 2019, Mordaunt was appointed as Secretary of State for International Development, a position she held until 2020. In this role, she oversaw the UK's international aid budget and was responsible for ensuring that the government's aid spending was effective and targeted towards the areas where it was needed most. Mordaunt was a strong advocate for using aid to promote economic development and to support the rights of women and girls around the world.

Following a cabinet reshuffle in February 2020, Penny Mordaunt returned to government as the Paymaster General in the Cabinet Office, taking over from Oliver Dowden. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the government's financial management, including the management of public spending and the collection of taxes.

In addition to her role as Paymaster General, Mordaunt was also appointed as the UK alternate co-chair of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee. In this capacity, she was responsible for working with her EU counterparts to ensure the smooth implementation of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the negotiation of trade deals and other agreements.

After Boris Johnson resigned during the July 2022 government crisis, Penny Mordaunt entered the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party and the UK's next prime minister. Despite a strong campaign, Mordaunt was ultimately unsuccessful in her bid for the leadership.

Personal life

Penny Mordaunt first met Paul Murray while they were both studying at the University of Reading, and they were married in 1999. However, their marriage ended in divorce just a year later.

As of 2015, Mordaunt has been in a long-term relationship with Ian Lyon, a businessman and part-time classical singer. Mordaunt has lived in Portsmouth, her hometown, for her entire life.

In her spare time, Mordaunt enjoys various hobbies such as astronomy, painting, dance, and music. She is also a proud owner of four Burmese cats.

Mordaunt is also a keen fundraiser for charitable causes, and has undertaken a number of fundraising challenges over the years. In 2013, she completed a 3000-mile solo row across the Atlantic Ocean, raising over £500,000 for the armed forces charity, the Royal British Legion. In 2014, she took part in a celebrity version of the television show "Splash!" and donated her prize money to the neurological charity, Headway.

Achievements and accomplishments

Penny Mordaunt has been recognized for her achievements and contributions in public service with various awards and honors. Some of these include:

• Naval Reserve Volunteer of the Year Award (2009)
• Chartered Management Institute's Management Book of the Year Awards - Management Futures Award (2016)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws - University of Portsmouth (2019)
• Women in Defence UK Awards - Inspirational Award (2019)
• The House Magazine's Parliamentarian of the Year Awards - Minister of the Year (2019)
• Honorary Colonel - Royal Navy Reserve (2019)
• Honorary Fellow - Royal College of Nursing (2019)
• Royal Navy 'Master Gunner' - HMS Excellent (2019)
• The Spectator's Parliamentarian of the Year Awards - Cabinet Minister of the Year (2019)
• Honorary Life Membership - Royal Naval Reserve (2019)