The vast majority of voters across the UK would not have been able to tell you who Penny Mordaunt was until this week. Despite her position in the Tory leadership contest, she remains an unknown quantity to most people.
They couldn’t pick her out of a line-up even if offered a cash prize. This anonymity serves a political purpose, however. Mordaunt is a blank canvas on which Conservative party members can paint whatever they want.
It also helps that she is not Rishi Sunak. Many Tories cannot stand the thought of the former Chancellor becoming Prime Minister.
Mordaunt could enter Downing Street simply because she wasn’t responsible for the tax hikes and big spending blamed on Sunak. But is she really qualified to run the country? Even some senior Conservatives don’t think so and are now publicly warning against her.
Mordaunt’s career as a minister was patchy at best. She briefly served as Defence Secretary under Theresa May before swiftly returning to the backbenches. But she is an ardent Brexiteer who knows how to push the buttons of right-wing Tory members.
She was caught out for making false claims during the run-up to the 2016 referendum. In short, she sounds a lot like Johnson – a populist right-winger who will say anything to take power. The last thing the country needs.
We’re still weeks away from finding out who will win the leadership contest. Whether it’s Mordaunt or Sunak, the first thing they should do is call a general election.
We need some sanity back in Downing Street.
A legacy of love
Despite trying to deal with her own grief, Louise Caldwell was determined to stop other women having the same devastating birthing experience as her. At her 12-week scan, she learned her baby had died and she would heartbreakingly have to deliver the infant.
She was forced to do so in the same maternity unit where mums and dads were celebrating the safe arrival of their little ones. The enormous pain they were feeling at their loss was compounded by the happiness of those they passed as they went in and out of the unit.
Louise vowed she would fight for separate areas for mums like her and she has been relentless in her campaign. The first of these units will open later this year.
It comes too late for Louise but her selfless campaigning will help ease the pain of countless others. She has created a real legacy of love out of her heartache and deserves our utmost gratitude.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
