Mordaunt mauls Fleet Street’s finest

Penny Mordaunt might be the media darling since wielding the Coronation sword but it wasn’t always this way. The Leader of the House has had a fair few run-ins with the Four Estate in recent years, including last summer’s leadership election. So it was with great enthusiasm that Mr S attended tonight’s Parliamentary Press Gallery summer reception where Mordaunt was billed as the star speaker.

Welcoming ‘friends – and Lord Frost’, Mordaunt introduced herself as ‘one of the handful of Conservative MPs not to have their own show on GB News.’ The former magicians’ assistant was quick to work her magic, referencing the infamous lobby briefing at which Mrs Thatcher’s press spokesman described John Biffen as a ‘semi-detached’ member of the government. ‘I am of course not semi-detached’ quipped Mordaunt: ‘I have a Liberal Democrat council so I would not get planning permission.’

Indeed, she continued, ‘I am here tonight with No.