Penny Mordaunt Cleared to Stand as Conservative Candidate Despite Prior Reports

Penny Mordaunt will be permitted to stand as a Conservative candidate in the upcoming general election, overcoming reports that she had been blocked.

Mordaunt, a former cabinet minister who lost her seat in 2024, confirmed that she has been approved by the Conservative Party's candidates committee. "I have passed my parliamentary assessment board. I'm waiting to see what seats I can go for, but I have a full pass from the candidates' committee," she stated.

Expressing her eagerness to return, Mordaunt said, "I would love to be back on the squad." She added that if she is not selected for a constituency, she would support the party from the sidelines.

Mordaunt acknowledged that she has not always agreed with every Conservative policy but affirmed her support for the party's current direction under leader Kemi Badenoch. "Have I agreed 100 per cent with every policy? No, I haven't, and that's what collective responsibility is about," she told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. "But I'm very happy with the policy position as it is... and now things like leaving the ECHR are the only course of action."

Her comments come amid reports that several senior Tories, including Mordaunt, had faced potential roadblocks to standing again due to their perceived moderate stances on issues like leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and opposition to ditching the UK's net zero targets. Former Conservative MPs were required to reapply for candidacy, with decisions expected by the end of June, though some, including Mordaunt, experienced delays.

The situation was amplified by reports that former Tory chairman Sir Grant Shapps had been rejected as a parliamentary candidate, fueling speculation about Mordaunt's own prospects. However, Mordaunt's successful assessment by the candidates' committee appears to clear her path.

Mordaunt, known for carrying a ceremonial sword at King Charles' coronation, was once considered a potential successor to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before losing her Portsmouth North seat in 2024.

Approval from the Conservative candidate committee is a necessary step but does not guarantee Mordaunt a return to Parliament. She must still be selected by a local Conservative association to represent them in the general election.

Mordaunt's remarks were made on the opening day of the Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, where Badenoch is expected to outline her vision for the party. Badenoch has emphasized a commitment to forming a "brand new party full of new people" and has stated that prospective candidates must adhere to specific policy stances, including leaving the ECHR and abandoning the 2050 net zero target.