Times article suggested Penny Mordaunt as likely replacement for Johnson

[teawamutu]

Penny 'TWAW' Mordaunt.

Please god, no...

Yes good call.

I've been struggling to find the Times article mentioned in the OP.
Please could someone link it for me?

Sorry in the eyes of the CP that is

Is it just a PR piece planted in The Times?

I haven’t read it but I’m not getting why she would be a specifically convincing candidate

Does she appeal to various factions etc

I thought it was an odd article Marsha. But that doesn't detract from the guessing of who's the new leader and who would be good. It does seem like a vote may happen. There were c36k votes on a yes/no poll on the Times: would Boris survive? 66% said no.

I'm a member of the Conservative Party and eligible to vote. I'd rather slit my own throat than vote for Penny Mordaunt. It costs £2 a month to be a member, you can stop at any time and you have to be a member for 3 months to be able to vote. Members have a big say in the future leader.

To be honest I would be very surprised if Penny Mordaunt got anywhere. She has little cabinet experience and isn't very popular in the party or among the members.

I agree an article re who would be good and who’s looking likely would be interesting

I wasn’t sure why Penny Mordaunt would be focussed on first, although each potential could start garnering press on their own accord I guess.

I feel clobbered enough by the uncertainty at this point if he goes then so be it. Just make a decision and move forward so we can. (Although Cummings did a corker again if so.)

James Forsyth in tomorrow's Times:

Tories trapped between mutiny and paralysis

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/68726d0e-e288-11ec-baab-53d14c642149?shareToken=9ae7500d3daf41d51980619b12320921

I think her chances are next to zero as her opponents in any race would soon let it be known MP doesn’t seem to know what a woman is The Conservative membership will not like that one bit.

It would appear she is not alone in that. Perhaps because it is not a simple question to answer.

She's quite local to me. Like a pp says, I just don't think she'd be popular enough with voters.

Well firstly there was her being against Brexit which she then u turned on after the referendum.

Then there was her full support for Brits volunteering to go and fight in Ukraine which she then backed down on and u turned

Then there was her support for sending family fighter jets to Ukraine then realising the impracticalities (training etc) backed down.

Basically she opens her mouth first and reflects thinks second and thirdly backs down / u turns.

Oh that doesn't necessarily make Penny Mordant a credible candidate.

Penny Mordant seems to operate on the basis that if she does absolutely nothing then she can do absolutely nothing wrong.

It's being widely reported that Boris was booed on arrival at St Paul's today.

This article sheds a tiny bit more light on Mordaunt:

Boris Johnson is sleepwalking into an ‘inevitable’ vote of no confidence

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/531025de-e349-11ec-baab-53d14c642149?shareToken=b261ba1ed9fbd5257a4e78a68f73682c

"Within government Penny Mordaunt, a trade minister, has the support of a number of Tory rebels, particularly among Scottish conservatives. Friends have insisted she is loyal to the prime minister. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary and Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, are seen as potential rivals."

A potential candidate who insisted TWAW from the despatch box with support in Scotland, a nation likely pressing ahead with self-ID in spite of majority opinion against doesn't inspire confidence.

Its nice to see the Tory leadership knifing potential rivals before even a contest is called. Rishi for one and now this about Penny.
Clearly they are worried for Boris.

Seconded!

I think the fact that Mordant said TWAW at the dispatch box knowing that that position was not government policy shows that she is super-committed to the idea. If she appears to have changed her mind that's great (agree you have to give people a get-out from all this) and I hope if that is true that she continues as an MP but would I trust her for the top job? No, not in a million years.

I wonder why people who are better regarded don’t go for it

Looking at the list below Ben Wallace for example, maybe he’s aware he knows defence very well and wants to stick to that

Then others towards the top, would need to scroll back to see list

Thirded.