Penny’s allies ‘in revenge plot’

PENNY Mordaunt’s supporters are plotting a ‘stop Liz’ campaign as revenge for ‘hostile’ briefings against her.

MPs who backed Miss Mordaunt will now encourage members in their constituencies to back Rishi Sunak instead.

The two camps are thought to be in talks as Mr Sunak aims to win over the 105 MPs who backed the third-placed leadership contender. Allies of the trade minister, who lost out to Miss Truss by eight votes in the final ballot of Tory MPs on Wednesday, have already hit out at ‘hostile and unpleasant’ briefings against her.

Her backers are now set to return the favour by falling in behind the former chancellor, according to The i newspaper.

But the claim – denied by Miss Mordaunt’s team last night – was strengthened yesterday as one of her backers came out in support for Mr Sunak. Former science minister George Freeman said: ‘For me it’s Rishi Sunak.’ But just last week he strongly endorsed Miss Mordaunt, calling her ‘a pragmatist and optimist’.