PM for PM, came the call today from 10 Ukrainian MPs across three different parties, all of whom pledged their support for Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt, in her bid to succeed Boris Johnson.
With Russia’s war in Ukraine looming large as the key foreign policy matter for all of the prime ministerial hopefuls, it’s something of a coup for Mordaunt to have been singled out.
Some of the praise for Penny came from members of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s very own Servant of the People party. MP Vasyl Virastyuk said: “Penny Mordaunt has repeatedly expressed her support for Ukraine and stated that ‘Russia must lose the war’.. She herself sheltered Ukrainian refugees at home. I am sure that this is the prime minister who will become a new great friend of Ukraine.”
Mordaunt previously cited her decision to house Ukrainian refugees as evidence that “a steadfast and unwavering commitment isn’t just political, it is also personal.” Either way, it’s clearly playing into her hands politically.
Other endorsements came from Ukrainian MPs who Mordaunt has managed to charm in person. Lesia Vasylenko of the Holos (Voice) Party, who met with her during a recent visit to London, has said: “The next Conservative leader will need to be 110% dedicated to Ukraine’s victory and with it the victory of democracy. Penny Mordaunt was the first minister I have met, back in March, and she struck me with her determination to have Ukraine win at all costs. This is exactly the kind of uncompromising stance we in Ukraine require from our partners today.”
Why else would Mordaunt be the preferred candidate? She is certainly one with considerable experience in international policy. The Royal Naval reservist previously served as defence secretary and secretary of state for international development. Then again, her legacy in the latter department is contentious; it’s thought to be Mordaunt who ultimately convinced Boris Johnson to cut the UK’s foreign aid budget.
Ukrainian praise for Penny is perhaps the biggest blow for her rival Liz Truss – the candidate with the most real-life experience in dealing with Russia – who was probably hoping to curry favour with Kyiv’s politicians as a result. Backbencher Tom Tugendhat will be similarly displeased. As Maximilian Hess, a Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, points out, Tugendhat “has long been hawkish on Russia”. He called for banning Russia from British capital markets – a proscription that only became policy in February – as early as May 2018. It was Tugendhat, too, who caused a stir back in February by declaring: “We can expel Russian citizens – all of them”, before later insisting that he was only referring to those connected to Putin’s regime.
The strong display of solidarity for Ukraine amongst all of the Tory hopefuls makes Mordaunt’s popularity all the more impressive. The Portsmouth North MP wasted no time today in thanking those she has managed to woo. She said: “I am humbled to have been endorsed by my brave colleagues from Kyiv,” before adding: “Putin must fail. Under my leadership, Britain will ensure he does. I will stand with President Zelensky and ensure Britain remains their strongest ally.” Mordaunt’s fans in Kyiv would have expected nothing less.
