The row over reports that Kemi Badenoch is blocking a Commons return by Dame Penny Mordaunt has taken a new twist after a claim that the Tory leader is “jealous” of the “charismatic” ex-defence secretary.
Dame Penny, who played a prominent part in King Charles’ coronation ceremony, has reportedly had her bid to become a parliamentary candidate held up by Tory chiefs.
She lost her Commons seat in 2024 and is said to be the latest victim of “culture warrior” Ms Badenoch’s Tory “purge” of MPs with views on issues including Europe, net zero, and gender, seen as “liberal” by rightwingers.
Ms Badenoch and Dame Penny have clashed publicly in the past over Dame Penny’s stance on gender identity – in 2018 she said “trans men are men and trans women are women”. Ms Badenoch accused her of “pushing self-identity”.
Now, a new book by political biographer Sir Anthony Seldon suggests Ms Badenoch was not only “jealous” of Dame Penny – but also deliberately “whipped up” attacks on her to kill off her leadership hopes.
Seldon’s new biography of Rishi Sunak, Sunak at 10 - the Last Conservative PM?, which is being serialised inThe Independent, says that as Mr Sunak’s 2024 election defeat loomed, ambitious Ms Badenoch resented the way Dame Penny was increasingly seen as a leadership rival.
Dame Penny had been praised for her “glamour and poise” when she presented the Sword of State to King Charles at his coronation as Lord President of the Council the previous year.
Seldon writes: “One person particularly disconcerted by the new spotlight on Dame Penny, jealous of her charisma and popularity… was Kemi Badenoch.
“Together with her supporters, she whipped up negativity against her.”
Dame Penny, who lost her Portsmouth North seat at the last election, held eight ministerial posts and made two unsuccessful attempts to become Conservative leader.
She is the second Tory grandee bidding to return to the Commons whose application to join the Conservative candidates list appears to have been blocked. Former party chairman Grant Shapps is believed to have suffered a similar fate.
Ms Badenoch has made it clear that any would-be Tory MP who does not support her pledge to withdraw the UK from the European Court of Human Rights and to abolish the UK’s “impossible” commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will not be allowed to stand as a Conservative parliamentary candidate.
Ms Badenoch and Dame Penny argued over gender in a TV debate during the 2022 Tory leadership contest when Ms Badenoch accused Dame Penny of backing the right of women to self identify, a claim the latter denied.
Ms Badenoch said: “When I took over as Equalities Minister in 2020 what was being pushed was self-ID. I don’t understand how that would have changed unless someone else did it. My understanding was the previous minister who had the role (Dame Penny) had wanted self-ID.”
Dame Penny shot back: “That is not correct. This will all be on record.”
The former Tory defence secretary previously opposed Britain leaving the ECHR, though recently said she had changed her view.
Dame Penny and Mr Shapps both expected to learn in June if their applications to be included in the Conservative parliamentary candidates list has been approved but are still waiting to hear.
All applicants, including former cabinet ministers, have had to take part in a six hour assessment including a detailed interview.
Conservative HQ officials say the process is a key part of Ms Ms Badenoch’s determination to show that the party has changed.
They say all aspiring candidates are treated equally and fairly whether they are experienced former MPs or are totally new to the party.
Extracted from ‘Sunak at 10: The Last Conservative Prime Minister?’ by Anthony Seldon and Tom Egerton, Atlantic Books. On sale 27 August, hardback, £25