Penny Mordaunt tells SNP to ‘learn a lesson’ from Coronation in brutal takedown
Penny Mordaunt tells SNP to 'learn a lesson' from Coronation
Penny Mordaunt today urged the SNP to “learn a lesson” from the Coronation in a brutal takedown.
The Commons leader insisted you “can’t achieve anything with division and hate”, adding that “the only way forward is service, duty and love”.
Ms Mordaunt made the comments as she responded to SNP MP Deidre Brock during Business Questions in the House of Commons.
The Portsmouth North MP stole the show at the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday with her impressive sword-carrying role.
Edinburgh North and Leith MP Ms Brock said: “Commendable upper body strength on show there and with the added strain of having to remain silent virtually all afternoon, so well done her.
“Now, maybe, though it was a speak softly and carry a big sword moment, as it appears carrying a lethal weapon and wearing an imperial-style outfit now makes her favourite to be the next Tory leader. Was it the sword of Damocles she was clutching?”
Ms Mordaunt responded: “I’m very aware that my most successful role in my career to date has been when I have been silent and that has not been lost on me.”
She went on: “I know that she and her colleagues did not necessarily celebrate the Coronation but I would just say that they can learn a lesson from it, you can’t achieve anything with division and hate, the only way forward is service, duty and love.”
During the exchange, the Conservative MP also mocked the SNP over the chaos engulfing the party which is facing a police probe into its finances.
Ms Mordaunt said: “I am genuinely delighted the SNP have found some auditors.
“With nearly 2,000 accountancy and auditing firms in Scotland, I was interested as to who they would pick to do the job. Yet the SNP have had to go to Manchester in order to find someone willing to take on the task.
“Perhaps now they could turn their attention to their dire mishandling of Scottish finances and the recommendations of Audit Scotland.
“The SNP have been forced to raise income after £100 million budget overspend despite cutting public expenditure by £1.2 billion this year. The Scottish people deserve better than that.”
Ms Mordaunt’s comments come after she was praised by the left and right for her sword-wielding at the Coronation.
As Lord President of the Council, she was responsible for bearing The Sword of State and presenting The Jewelled Sword of Offering to Charles – the first time it has been carried out by a woman.
Dressed in a custom-made teal outfit with a matching cape and headband with gold feather embroidery, she held and carried the pieces for the majority of the service.
Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Mordaunt described the historic occasion as a “humbling day.”
She said: “It was a humbling day in every respect. Crowned heads and world leaders were just faces in the congregation.
“All came to bear witness to love, service and sacrifice. His Majesty the King served longer than anyone in history as Prince of Wales.
“This is a life lived in the public eye. The royal family sets a parenthesis. We politicians should heed this example. We, too, have a choice. We can decide to narrow the parenthesis. Or we can decide to widen it. It takes courage, patience and judgment to listen to all views.
“If people chose to recognise my role, then I’m grateful. But my gratitude and thanks are reserved for all who took part. You can choose dissent. You can choose duty. The real recognition for Saturday, though, belongs to all of us.”
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