The Telegraph ran a story last Friday detailing Penny Mordaunt’s 40 visits to constituency associations since Sunak took the throne – “How does she find time for all the trips? That is the question muttered by some Conservative colleagues who know a tilt for the leadership when they see one.” Who wouldn’t want to show up to “The Sword of Truth Black Tie Dinner”?

Mordaunt has this morning Penny-ed her response:

“In fact, I have made more than 70 such visits… My motivation for doing so is straightforward: to support the campaign frontline against the threat of a Labour government.“

Getting to know the membership always helps one cause or another…

Read the full letter below:

“SIR – I am writing regarding your report, “Mordaunt has made 40 trips to Tory associations events since Sunak became PM” (March 22).

In fact, I have made more than 70 such visits, excluding those in a ministerial capacity and any fundraising and campaigning organised by Conservative Campaign Headquarters. I am pleased to have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for our prospective candidates, incumbent MPs and local associations, and I intend to continue such visits in the coming weeks and months. I’ll be right there with them, campaigning on the doorstep and lending my support to ensure these fine people secure their seats in Parliament.

My motivation for doing so is straightforward: to support the campaign frontline against the threat of a Labour government.

Should Labour get back into power, we can expect to see the undermining of Nato via an EU defence pact, the unpicking of decades of trades-union reform, the clobbering of our businesses by new red tape and greater taxation, the erosion of our educational standards, cuts to the NHS budget, and for all the nonsense and maladministration so evident in Wales and London to be inflicted on the British people further – and worse.“