Today’s attack on Penny Mordaunt, the new betting favourite for the Tory leadership, was led by Lord Frost.
The trade minister is not “tough” enough to take on the EU, according to the previous Brexit minister, and she did not “master the detail” when she filled in for him during negotiations.
He also said he was astonished she is leading the fight for No. 10 because he had to ask Boris Johnson to move her into a different position.
The intervention comes as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tries to retake the initiative over Ms. Mordaunt, who unexpectedly finished second in yesterday’s initial vote among MPs.
According to polls, she might also prevail over any prospective competitors in a vote among Tory members.
But Ms. Mordaunt is already under close examination due to her new status, and she is being asked whether she has altered her ‘woke’ opinions on trans rights to get support.
Lord Frost, a former minister for Brexit, expressed surprise at her position in the contest for the presidency on TalkTV.
I’ve worked with Penny before… In the Brexit negotiations last year, she served as my deputy more in name than in practice, he claimed.
I’m sorry to say this, but I thought she lacked the attention to detail during the negotiations last year.
She wasn’t always willing to give the European Union stern advice when it was required.
She wasn’t quite entirely accountable, I’m afraid.
She wasn’t constantly in view. I occasionally have no idea of her whereabouts.
And I’m sad that after six months, this became such an issue that I had to ask the Prime Minister to fire her and find someone else to help me.
‘I’m talking solely about my own experience with her, but on the basis of what I observed, I’m afraid I would have significant misgivings about that,’ Lord Frost stated in reference to the necessity for a PM to be ‘tough’ and ‘equipped to lead.’
‘Just because Penny voted for Brexit doesn’t mean she can be trusted to deliver it,’ a campaign source said.
Can she be trusted to get things done, given how poorly she has performed since Brexit?
Lord Frost’s “serious” warning was used by Treasury Minister Simon Clarke as evidence that the party required a leader who had been “tried.”
Ms. Mordaunt was accused of “telling lies” over her opinions on gender issues by another ally of Ms. Truss.
The ally stated, “She is appearing at hustings claiming she never advocated trans rights while she was equalities minister when there are people in government who know it is not true.”
She is lying, and if she enters, she will turn into a jerk and break up the celebration.
At her campaign launch, Ms. Truss pledged, “I certainly won’t be making any negative comments about my other candidates.”
While a source close to Ms. Mordaunt told MailOnline: “Penny has nothing but respect for Lord Frost,” David Davis accused the Foreign Secretary of using the “dark arts.”
He contributed significantly to our negotiations up until the point that he left the government.
“Penny always has and always will fight for Brexit.”