Investigation into alleged leak aimed at undermining Mordaunt's bid for PM

A formal investigation has been opened into the alleged leak of information aimed at undermining Penny Mordaunt's campaign to become Prime Minister.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case announced the investigation after receiving a complaint about the release of internal government communications relating to Ms. Mordaunt's position on the difficult issue of trans rights.

In a letter to Mordaunt supporter David Davis, Mr. Case said that the unauthorized release of government information to the media was "clearly inappropriate".< /p>

"I have been very clear in writing with the Civil Service that it is paramount that public resources are not used to support leadership campaigns," he said.

"In light of these facts and the concerns you raise, I can confirm that I have launched an investigation into the leaks at this topic."

Recommended

Mr. Case said the investigation “will be completed as quickly as possible, given the importance of the subject.”

Camp Mordaunt responded furiously to the publication in The Sunday Times of Government Equalities Office documents from her time as Equalities Minister, which opponents said contradicted her claim that she had always opposed trans self-identification.

Ms Mordaunt dismissed the 'toxic' smear allegation, and Mr Davis wrote to Mr Case complaining that the leak was 'selective, misrepresenting and misleading' and pointing the finger at the rival of Ms Mordaunt, Liz Truss, who is currently Equalities Secretary - as well as Foreign Secretary.

< p>"I fear that these misleading leaks from ministries, currently led by those who want to be elected to the Conservative leadership, have compromised the [civil service] code," Davis said. "He can't s be fair that official resources and documents be released in order to influence a political party election, especially if they give a distorted impression of the facts."

The announcement of the investigation into leakers also arrived late to help Ms Mordaunt in her bid to get her name on the ballot for the Tory members' vote to choose a successor to Boris Johnson. Tory MPs today voted in the fifth and final round of voting at Westminster which eliminated Ms Mordaunt as a candidate.

The Trade Secretary faced an uphill battle to fend off a late push from Ms Truss, who joined former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the second round.