Penny Mordaunt becomes first Tory candidate to declare in race for No 10

The now-Leader of the House, who finished third behind both Rishi Sunak and Ms Truss in the summer’s contest to replace Boris Johnson, said that she had been encouraged to stand by fellow MPs and pledged to unite the party.

“I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest,” she said in a statement posted on social media.

“I’m running to be the leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister – to unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next GE (General Election).”

The Portsmouth MP yesterday held talks with Jeremy Hunt in which she assured him that he could stay on as Chancellor in her cabinet, after he ruled out another tilt at the top job.

Sources close to Ms Mordaunt said she had made clear that she would proceed with his budget plan to get the public finances back on track, due to be announced on October 31.

Ms Mordaunt will likely face both Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson in the leadership contest, with both men understood to be considering running.

As of last night, she had received over 20 endorsements from her colleagues, dozens shy of the 100 needed in order to get onto the ballot.

These included former ministers George Freeman and Caroline Dinenage, as well as the former-cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom.

Quoting a post from Ms Mordaunt announcing her bid, Ms Leadsom tweeted: “Delighted by this!

“Penny has the experience, the compassion and the determination to lead our country to a bright future!”

In the summer’s contest, Ms Mordaunt received 105 votes, only eight fewer than Liz Truss who went on to beat Rishi Sunak when the contest was put to the party’s membership.

Robbie Moore, the Keighley and Ilkley MP, said that he was “incredibly confident” that she will get the 100 MP nominations needed to reach the members’ voting stage.

“So I am incredibly optimistic,” he said, adding that she was a candidate that was able to unite the party.

Suella Braverman, who was forced out as home secretary by Ms Truss, and International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, are also thought to be weighing possible challenges having both stood in July.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said she will make a statement “in due course” on whether she will run for the Tory leadership.

Ms Badenoch, who, like Suella Braverman, rowed in behind Ms Truss as a unity candidate for the right of the party over the summer, is touted as a bright star for the future of the party after impressing during the leadership contest in July.

Mr Sunak as of last night topped the number of backers for his campaign with over 80, less than 20 shy of the numbers he needs to make it onto the ballot.

The former-chancellor received 137 votes from colleagues in the final round of voting during the summer’s leadership contest.

However, Mr Sunak’s support contrasted with her previous tilt at becoming Prime Minister, with many of his supporters out of the Government and cabinet after Liz Truss sacked them before appointing a team of MPs who had backed her in the contest.

Tory MP Nigel Mills said it was a “mistake” for him not to back Rishi Sunak during the summer’s leadership contest.

Mr Mills tweeted: “A few weeks ago I changed my mind and didn’t back @RishiSunak.

“I’m not making the same mistake again, he is clearly the Prime Minister we need to restore stability and tackle the many serious challenges facing the country.”

Meanwhile George Eustice, the former Environment Secretary, said that Mr Sunak had “won in all of the exchanges that took place in hustings” and would once again be his choice for Prime Minister.

Ministers Robert Jenrick and Claire Coutinho and backbenchers Guy Opperman, Siobhan Baillie, Angela Richardson and Robin Walker have all said they believe the former chancellor is the right man for the job, after he finished runner-up in the summer’s leadership contest.

Mr Jenrick, who previously backed Mr Sunak for PM, said on social media the former cabinet minister would “restore public confidence in our party and market confidence in our economy”, and “unite” the Conservatives.

Former Cabinet Minister Sajid Javid also backed the former-chancellor, saying he has the “values our party needs” to help them “move on from the mistakes of the past”.

Mr Javid tweeted: “The only way for our party to reclaim our values and recover our reputation for stewardship is to move on from the mistakes of the past and come together to focus on the future.”

Polling yesterday revealed that Mr Sunak looked to have the edge over both Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt.

Research by Opinium looked at how the Conservative candidates would do head to head against each other in the eyes of the public, and found that Mr Sunak would comfortably beat Ms Mordant and Mr Johnson.

The Leader of the Commons would narrowly beat Mr Johnson, the pollster found.

Separate polling from YouGov said that all three candidates would lose to Sir Keir Starmer, but that Mr Sunak would come closest, and would trail by only nine points against the Labour leader.