Awkward! Mordaunt’s swipe at ‘part-time Penny’... next to boss who fuelled work ethic doubts

PENNY Mordaunt yesterday hit back at the minister who criticised her work ethic – and led to her being labelled ‘part-time Penny’.

As she returned to her day job after her failed leadership bid, the junior trade minister aimed a barb at her boss in the department, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

Mrs Trevelyan, who is backing Liz Truss, had criticised Miss Mordaunt by saying colleagues were forced to ‘pick up the pieces’ because she ‘hasn’t been available’.

With Mrs Trevelyan sat next to her on the Tory frontbench, Miss Mordaunt responded to a question from former minister Dame Andrea Leadsom, who asked: ‘ Does she agree with me that being a force for good in the world for free trade is an absolutely honourable goal and one that the UK should be promoting every chance we get?’

The Portsmouth North MP replied: ‘Yes, I am sort of amazed to find myself here this morning given my reported work ethic. But I am here.’

She aimed a further dig at Mrs Trevelyan after Labour criticised her department for trying to ‘dodge any form of scrutiny’ over the UK-Australia free trade deal. Mrs Trevelyan was accused of having ‘ bottled’ appearing before MPs on the international trade committee to discuss it.

Miss Mordaunt said: ‘Every single time the international trade committee or other body of this house has asked me to go before it, I have.’

In an interview on LBC on Monday, Mrs Trevelyan said: ‘Penny has for the last few months spent some of her time focused on preparing her leadership campaign. There have been a number of times when she hasn’t been available, which would have been useful, and other ministers have picked up the pieces.’