Who are Penny Mordaunt’s parents and does she have any siblings?

Penny Mordaunt is in the running for Tory leader – after Liz Truss resigned (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Penny Mordaunt has thrown her hat in the Tory leadership ring once again following Liz Truss’ resignation last week.

She is going head-to-head with former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cinch the Prime Minister spot, vying for the 100 votes needed by 2pm today to continue in the contest.

Currently, Ms Mordaunt is Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons and has been since September 2022 – and before that was Minister of State for Trade.

Though Mr Sunak’s early family life has been well documented during the previous leadership election, many will now be wondering about Ms Mordaunt’s family background.

So, who are her parents, and does she have a brother or sister?

Here is everything you need to know.

Who are Penny Mordaunt’s parents?

Ms Mordaunt, 49, was born Penelope Mary Mordaunt in Torquay, Devon in 1973.

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However, she spent her childhood in Portsmouth, where she’s lived all her life and has been Portsmouth North’s Conservative MP since 2010.

Her mum Jennifer made her career as a special needs teacher at schools in Purbook, Hampshire.

Sadly, she passed away of breast cancer when Ms Mordaunt was just 15.

Through her mum, the MP is related to Philip Snowden, who was the first Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Her dad John was born at Portsmouth’s Hilsea Barracks, and served in the Parachute Regiment of the British Army – later becoming a teacher and a Hampshire Council youth worker.

More: Penny Mordaunt

On her website, Ms Mordaunt also mentions her stepmother, who worked as a primary school teacher.

Does Penny Mordaunt have siblings?

Penny Mordaunt does indeed have siblings – two brothers.

One is her twin brother, James, who has worked as cabin crew for the Virgin Atlantic airline.

In April 2020, Ms Mordaunt tweeted her pride for James signing up to volunteer at a London Nightingale Hospital, which was set up to deal with an influx of Covid-19 cases, writing:

‘So proud of my twin. Cabin crew with some medical training now volunteering for @nightingaleldn… thank you to everyone who has done likewise.’

James has 56,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 75,000 on Instagram – often talking about politics and LGBTQ issues on the former, and sharing selfies on the latter.

Ms Mordaunt’s younger brother is called Edward, and he has worked as a chartered surveyor.

In September 2022, Leeds Live reported that Edward, 44, was given a suspended sentence of six months in prison after pleading guilty at Leeds Crown Court for attempting to engage in sexual communication with who he believed who he believed was a 14-year-old girl called Elle on social media app KIK.

Elle was in fact a decoy managed by a police officer attempting to snare sex offenders.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement.

MORE : Rishi Sunak will go head to head with Penny Mordaunt to be the next Prime Minister

MORE : Who are Rishi Sunak’s parents? All you need to know about Tory candidate’s life growing up

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