LUCKY PENNY
PENNY Mordaunt has been announced as the new International Development Secretary after Priti Patel's resignation over her secret Israeli meetings.
The former work and pensions minister had been the red hot favourite after Theresa May was forced to shuffle her top team for the second time in a week.
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Promoting the 44-year-old Brexiteer from Devon helps the Prime Minister maintain the delicate balance of Remainers and Leavers – and also keep the same number of women in the Cabinet.
It was part of a minimal reshuffle designed to keep disruption to a minimum after another crisis-hit week for Mrs May.
Ms Mordaunt was pictured walking into Downing Street this lunchtime to replace Ms Patel, who stood down last night.
Also joining her was Victoria Atkins, who becomes the first MP from the 2015 intake to enter the Government as a minister in the Home Office.
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Ms Patel had been summoned back to the UK from a visit to Africa by the PM after the furore around her undisclosed contact with senior figures in Israel.
In a letter she accepted she “fell below the standards of transparency and openness”, and followed Sir Michael Fallon out of the door.
Comprehensive-school educated Ms Mordaunt, a navy reservist, had been Minister of State for Disabled People since last July when Mrs May first came to power, having previously served as the Armed Forces minister under David Cameron.
A former magician's assistant, she joined Parliament in 2010, winning the Portsmouth North seat from Labour at the second attempt, and holding it again in 2015 and earlier this year with a majority of 10,000.
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But she hit the headlines in 2014 when she took part in the ITV reality show Splash! where she donned a swimsuit to launch off a high diving board for charity.
And she is also best-remembered for admitting that she had delivered a speech in Parliament in March 2013 as a forfeit for a misdemeanour during her naval training.
As she picked up The Spectator magazine's Parliamentarian of the Year award in November 2014, she said her Commons address just before the Easter recess about poultry welfare was a dare.
Ms Mordaunt was accused of trivialising parliament after she said the word “cock” six times and “lay” or “laid” five times.
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Tory MP Penny Mordaunt with an impressive backflip off diving board on ITV's Splash
The announcement of her move into Cabinet confirms what many had expected – that Mrs May would seek to keep her enforced reshuffle as low-key as possible, with just one appointment.
Replacing her in her old role is Sarah Newton, a minister at the Home Office. And replacing her is rising star Ms Atkins, the Louth and Horncastle MP.
But there is still a large amount of pressure on the PM following a disastrous fortnight for her ministers.
Former Defence Secretary Mr Fallon was forced to resign after admitting his behaviour in the past had “fallen below the high standards” he asks of Britain’s troops.
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Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, is also under fire after he was accused of incorrectly stating last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "teaching journalism" in Iran when she was arrested – which could see her jail term increased.
Her closest ally and de facto deputy Damian Green is under investigation by the Cabinet Office over alleged inappropriate behaviour, who are also undertaking an inquiry into trade minister Mark Garnier.
Three other MPs are being investigated by the party’s new disciplinary body in the wake of the Westminster sleaze scandal – Stephen Crabb, Daniel Kawczynski and Dan Poulter.
While another – Charie Elphicke- has had the whip suspended and been referred to the police after “serious allegations” were made against him.
Priti Patel resigns from position of International Development Secretary following undisclosed meetings
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