Mordaunt’s ‘Bulldog face’ PMQS defence
PENNY Mordaunt said her resting face is that of a “bulldog chewing a wasp” as she responded to accusations from Labour that she could not “muster a nod” for Liz Truss in Prime Minister’s Questions.
On Wednesday, Ms Truss faced MPS in the Commons for the first time since Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget unleashed chaos in the financial markets.
The Commons Leader, who was on the frontbench as the PM answered questions, gained traction on social media with several users claiming her facial expression remained set throughout.
The lack of emotion on Ms Mordaunt’s face did not go unnoticed by Labour either, with shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire directly addressing it at business questions.
She said: “The country’s economic outlook almost as grim as the faces on the benches opposite during PMQS... the Leader of the House couldn’t even muster a nod for her Prime Minister.”
Ms Mordaunt replied: “My resting face is that of a bulldog chewing a wasp, and people shouldn’t read too much into that.”
The Commons Leader’s remarks during an event at the Tory conference that “our policy is great but our comms is s**t” were also humorously picked apart
Ms Debbonaire said: “I think I saw the right honourable lady saying our policies are great but our comms are shhh ... shocking. Let’s go with that to keep it parliamentary. Now, on comms of course I agree, but people across the country know that her policies, her Government’s policies, are also shhh ... shocking, too.”
Ms Mordaunt defended herself, saying she was “playing the crowd as I was addressing a room full of communication professionals”.
Labour MP Richard Burgon (Leeds East) called for a general election and said it is clear the Government has “lost the confidence of the public”.
Ms Mordaunt, in her reply, said: “The democratic system that we operate under elects a team and this team, on this side of the House, is pro-growth, pro-better public services and pro-getting our constituents through the costof-living issues that they’re currently facing.
“It seems to be successful as we’re approaching at the next election a potential fifth term in office. Teamwork is good and I’d commend it to (Mr Burgon).”