Penny Mordaunt failed to praise Rishi Sunak when challenged to confirm her support for the Prime Minister today amid speculation about a plot to oust him.
The Commons Leader was warned by Labour that anything less than a “gushing homage” to Mr Sunak “might be misinterpreted” as rumours swirl about a plan to install her as his replacement.
Lucy Powell, the shadow Commons leader, used this morning’s business statement to urge Ms Mordaunt to address the “elephant in the room”, adding: “I’ve heard her before in these sessions giving a rather fulsome, sometimes slightly over the top personal tribute to the Prime Minister.
“Given that so many are losing faith, I thought she might want to take this opportunity today to give us another gushing homage. Anything less might be misinterpreted.”
Ms Mordaunt responded: “Mr Speaker, I have briefly emerged from under the hairdryer, put down my Take A Break magazine, managed not only to find my way to the chamber this morning, but also remember on which side of it I am supposed to be sitting. To be present and correct for Business Questions, quite a feat if media reports are to be believed.”
She praised the Government’s economic record, adding: “It is confirmation that the plan is working when on Thursdays the Opposition focuses not on these facts in the real world but on the Westminster rumour vortex.”
But she did not take the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Sunak directly.
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