Tories roar for Penny Mordaunt after she declares ‘stand up and fight’ and punches air

Penny Mordaunt urged Tories to “stand up in fight” as she delivered a rousing speech to the party conference.

The Commons Leader invoked the spirit of former PM Margaret Thatcher as she warned Labour would take the country back to the 1980s.

She told the audience: “What I have to say to you today is not for the faint-hearted. We face the fight of our lives and our country needs us again, to stand up and fight.

“Stand up and fight against the odds, against the polling, against the sneering commentary, against the inevitability of decliners and the despite-Brexiters.”

Ms Mordaunt went on: “We are the party and country that transformed the sick man of Europe into a titan on the global stage, who stood up and fought against militant trade unions and broke their chokehold on Britain.

“A few brave people with courage and conviction and love of country who thought about the long-term, not short-term popularity, who knew what needed to be done and took on bullies to achieve it.

“Margaret Thatcher and every single person that stood with her and fought for a better future.”

She added: “They want to return us to the 1980s. Conference, we are not for returning.

Ms Mordaunt also ripped into Labour and Sir Keir Starmer, while mocking Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and the SNP’s Humza Yousaf.

She said: “He will not stand up for anything or anyone. He will not stand up for you.

“More likely, he’s gonna lie down. Lie down in the street with Just Stop Oil.

“Lie down with the Lib Dems and the SNP.

“Lie down with Ed Davey – the man that makes Tim Farron look like a giant.

“Lie down with Humza Yousaf – the man that made Nicola Sturgeon look competent.

“But, just think for a moment what they would mean for our relationship with the EU, and for the union of our precious United Kingdom.”

She concluded her speech by urging the audience to “stand up and fight”.

She said: “Because when you stand up and fight, the person beside you stands up and fights.

“And when our party stands up and fights, the nation stands up and fights.

“And when our nation stands up and fights, other nations stand up and fight.

“They stand up and fight for the things upon which the progress of humanity depends. Freedom.

“That is what Conservatives do. That is what this nation does. Have Courage. Bring Hope. Stand up and fight.”

Ms Mordaunt’s speech came ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s keynote address.