Mordaunt could ’cause trouble’ for Rishi after being denied promotion

Rishi Sunak makes first statement as Prime Minister

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Rishi Sunak has been warned that Penny Mordaunt could “cause trouble” for him after being denied a promotion in his Cabinet. The new Prime Minister appointed his first Cabinet earlier today. While Ms Mordaunt had been tipped for a top job, Mr Sunak instead reappointed her as Leader of the House of Commons.

The position has often been seen as a more junior role in the Government and at times has been used as a position to punish ministers.

Ms Mordaunt was first handed the role by Liz Truss when she became Prime Minister, before being given the job again by Mr Sunak.

Walking out of No10 earlier this evening, following the appointment, the MP looked unimpressed and refused to answer questions from the media.

This comes after Ms Mordaunt battled Mr Sunak for the Conservative Party leadership.

She clung on in the race until the very last minute, pulling out just a few minutes before the deadline yesterday after failing to secure enough nominations.

A campaign source close to Ms Mordaunt said she secured 90 nominations from Conservative MPs, just short of the 100 MP threshold needed to appear on the ballot paper.

One Tory insider told The i that Ms Mordaunt “can’t claim she went for unity – she went to the last minute.”

Speaking about her lack of promotion, they added: “She’ll be livid. And cause trouble for sure.”

Meanwhile, an ally of Ms Mordaunt said they were “surprised” by Mr Sunak’s first cabinet, saying there were some “great appointments” but also “some very odd choices”.

Speaking ahead of Mr Sunak’s cabinet appointments, a friend of the Prime Minister told the Telegraph his “primary driver will be competence”.

They added: “His second will be unity. His third will be rewards for allies. But if there is no room for rewards, so be it.

“He will want to be able to say of whoever is removed that they are superseded by someone who is demonstrably more capable, to make clear that the reshuffle is driven by merit.”

Another insider added: “They have learned the lessons from Truss.

“It will genuinely reach across the party. That isn’t talk. It is real this time.”

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