Bitter rivalry between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson could make Pennny Mordaunt the unity choice

Penny Mordaunt is hoping that the bitter rivalry between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak could pave the way for her to be a party unity pick for No 10.

Mordaunt, the Commons leader, said yesterday that she would “keep calm and carry on” after Liz Truss announced she would step down.

The former trade minister has made no secret of her ambition, however, and less than an hour after Truss’s statement, those who were on Mordaunt’s campaign team last time around were approaching advisers with a view to building a new cohort.

Although last night her candidacy had not been officially relaunched, a WhatsApp group that mobilised supporters was back up and running, while campaign pages on social media jolted back into action.

One MP