Penny Mordaunt

Parliamentarian for 14 years, holding 9 ministerial roles, including 4 in Cabinet, Penny Mordaunt was the first (and only) women to be Secretary of State for Defence.

Parliamentarian for 14 years, holding 9 ministerial roles, including 4 in Cabinet, Penny Mordaunt was the first (and only) women to be Secretary of State for Defence.

She was also the first and only woman to be Minister for the Armed Forces, and as Paymaster General, Penny became the UK Government’s first cross-government defensive cyber lead, which led to the rebuild of the UK’s civil contingencies and resilience strategy.

During her time as Secretary of State or International Development, she worked with UN agencies, international organisations and was the UK’s representative at the World Bank.

As Trade Minister, Penny brokered new trade deals, oversaw the UK’s accession to CPTPP and established economic agreements with US states, in lieu of a federal deal. In doing so, she undertook the longest tour of the US of any Minister, since Churchill during the Second World War. Penny was also on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee overseeing the UK’s exit from the EU.

Penny has held other roles in local government, work, health, pensions and disability.  Prior to Parliament she worked across all sectors and also in US politics as Head of Foreign Press for the RNC during the Bush 2000 campaign.

She was a Royal Navy Reservist for 10 years and is now an Honorary Captain affiliated to MCM2 Squadron, the UK’s mine hunters and bomb disposal divers. She is co-author of Greater: Britain after the storm, which made bestseller lists in the UK and the US.

She came to the public’s attention in the role of Leader of the Commons and Lord President of the Council, presiding over the Accession Council following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and at the coronation of King Charles III.

She has won Parliamentary Wit of the Year, Spectator speech of the year, was among Gracia and Vogue’s most influential women of the year.  Known for her speeches and exchanges in the House of Commons, she is one of only four women to have been asked to address the Saints and Sinners club, the others being Princess Anne, Margaret Thatcher and Dame Vera Lynn.