Penny Mordaunt ’s bid to become the next Tory leader has faced a “black ops” attack from Liz Truss ’s campaign.
Senior members of the Foreign Secretary’s team attempted to trash her record by claiming she is not up to the job.
The onslaught came after the “dark horse” candidate retained second place in the next round of voting by Tory MPs today.
It puts her in prime position to make it through to the final ballot of party members – along with ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Ms Mordaunt got 83 votes, 19 ahead of Ms Truss in third place.
Mr Sunak remains in pole position on 101 votes, which puts him within touching distance of making it into the final round.
Attorney General Suella Braverman was eliminated after coming last with 27. She is now backing the Foreign Secretary who has similar hardline views on Brexit and “woke” issues.
But the battle for second place became increasingly bitter after polls suggested international trade minister Ms Mordaunt would win.
She is the 8/13 favourite with bookies, ahead of 10/3 shot Mr Sunak and Ms Truss on 4/1.
Kemi Badenoch is next at 25/1 followed by 200/1 outsider Tom Tugendhat. Former Brexit minister Lord Frost, who is backing Ms Truss, said he had “grave reservations” about whether Ms Mordaunt was fit to be in No10.
He claimed she lacked a grasp of detail when she was his deputy, was unwilling to deliver tough messages to Brussels and he had to ask Boris Johnson to replace her.
A Mordaunt campaign source said: “Penny has nothing but respect for Lord Frost.
“Penny will always fight for Brexit and always has.”
Treasury Chief Secretary Simon Clarke, who is also backing Ms Truss, said: “Lord Frost’s warning is a really serious one.
“Conservatives – and, far more importantly, our country – need a leader who is tested and ready.”
Former cabinet minister David Davis, a backer of Ms Mordaunt, criticised the covert attack directed at her.
He said: “I wouldn’t describe it as friendly fire. It’s clockwork.
“You get to the point that somebody gets ahead and looks to be the real challenger and then the black op starts, the incoming fire starts.”
Ms Truss, who told supporters at her campaign launch she wants a “united” party, publicly distanced herself from the attack.
She said: “I certainly won’t be making any disparaging comments about fellow candidates in the race.”
Today she added she wanted to focus on “delivery, delivery, delivery” - despite the Tories being in power for 12 years.
She said she wanted to lead an “aspiration nation” with low-tax zones in poorer parts of UK and tax breaks for those who take time off to care for kids.
The Foreign Secretary would hold a Budget immediately and reverse NI rises and the planned corporation tax hike.
Another candidate, Tom Tugendhat, said he felt like a “prom queen” with rival campaigns wooing him to fall in behind him if he gets booted out.
Several supporters suggested the bulk of his 32 votes could transfer to Ms Mordaunt.
One Tory MP told the Mirror: “If you want Tom you want change. Penny is the other change candidate so it makes sense that his supporters will switch to her”.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak insisted his wealth and background in international finance do not bar him from understanding the plight of hard-pressed households.
He told the BBC : “I don’t judge people by their bank accounts, I judge them by their character, and I think people can judge me by my actions over the past couple of years.”
Mr Sunak defended his economic plan, which would not involve the immediate tax cuts promised by his rivals.
“I will get taxes down in this Parliament, but I’m going to do so responsibly,” he said.
“Because I don’t cut taxes to win elections, I win elections to cut taxes, and I’m convinced that I’m the best person to beat Keir Starmer and the Labour Party at the next election.”
Television debates are scheduled for tomorrow night, Sunday and Monday although it is unclear whether all candidates will turn up.
The next round of voting is due on Monday, with subsequent rounds if required until two candidates are left.
They will then battle it out over the summer to win the support of Tory members, with their choice of the next PM being unveiled on September 5.
After her leadership blow, Ms Braverman accused Ms Mordaunt of failing to stand up for women and of not being an “authentic Brexiteer” after being dumped out of the race.
She singled out the race favourite for her apparently supportive stance on trans rights.
Ms Braverman declined to endorse any candidate, saying she was “considering all of the options”.
She indicated she would back the candidate who will “stop illegal migration across the Channel”, and who will deliver “Brexit opportunities”, a “tough line on identity politics” and tax cuts.
