Penny Mordaunt British politician Date of Birth: 04.03.1973 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Family Roots
2. Education and Early Career
3. Entry into Parliament and Military Service
4. Rise in Government Ranks
5. Brexit Campaign and Ministerial Appointments
6. Defence Secretary and Gender Equality
7. Chancellor of the Exchequer and Personal Life
8. Legacy

Early Life and Family Roots

Penny Mordaunt is a British politician known for her trailblazing role as the first female UK Defence Secretary. Her political lineage runs deep, with ancestors such as Philip Snowden, the first Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, and George Lansbury, the party's leader in the 1930s and grandfather of actress Angela Lansbury.

Education and Early Career

Mordaunt graduated from Oaklands Catholic School in Waterlooville, Hampshire. After working as an assistant to a magician, she became the first in her family to attend university, studying philosophy at the University of Reading. During her undergraduate years, she took a break to work in hospitals and orphanages in Romania, which she credits with sparking her interest in politics.

Entry into Parliament and Military Service

In 2010, Mordaunt was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth North. She also serves as a reservist in the Royal Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Portsmouth-based shore establishment HMS King Alfred.

Rise in Government Ranks

In 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Mordaunt as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. In 2015, she became the first woman to hold the position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces.

Brexit Campaign and Ministerial Appointments

Mordaunt was a vocal supporter of Brexit during the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership in the European Union. She supported Andrea Leadsom's bid for the Conservative Party leadership and wrote an article arguing for Leadsom's suitability for the role. In 2016, she was appointed Minister of State for Disabled People at the Department for Work and Pensions in Theresa May's government.

Defence Secretary and Gender Equality

In 2019, Mordaunt made history as the first female UK Defence Secretary, while simultaneously serving as Minister for Women and Equalities. She held this position until the formation of Boris Johnson's government in 2019.

Chancellor of the Exchequer and Personal Life

In 2020, Mordaunt was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer without Cabinet status in Johnson's second ministry. She is in a common-law partnership with Ian Lyon, an IT director.

Legacy

Penny Mordaunt's accomplishments as a politician have broken barriers and set precedents. Her contributions to the military, gender equality, and the UK's political landscape have left an enduring mark on British history.