Penny Mordaunt is one of the final remaining contenders in the Tory leadership race alongside the favourite Rishi Sunak.

The former International Trade Secretary, 49, has claimed she has received the support of 90 Tory MPs, in the current PM contest ahead of the nominations deadline on Monday at 2 pm.

Rishi Sunak is the firm favourite to replace Liz Truss who resigned last Thursday following former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's withdrawal from the race on Sunday evening.

However, if the four-times-elected Portsmouth MP secures the support from 100 backers, the leadership race will continue. 

Mordaunt came third, behind Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, in the previous leadership race during the summer following Boris Johnson's resignation in July.

When she dropped out of the race, Mordaunt backed Truss over Mr Sunak, and was rewarded with a role in the new Cabinet as Commons Leader

Here's what we know about Mordaunt from her voting record to her manifesto for leadership. 

Who is Penny Mordaunt?

Ms Mordaunt has been a Conservative MP since May 2020, when she served under David Cameron's Coalition government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Decentralisation from 2014 to 2015.

After the 2015 general election, she became the first female Minister of State for the Armed Forces before she worked as the Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health under Theresa May.

Before becoming an MP, she was an active Tory member including heading the youth wing of the Conservative Party following her Philosophy degree at the University of Reading.

Ms Mordaunt also served in the Royal Naval Reserve, reaching the rank of  Acting Sub-Lieutenant and Honorary Captain.

Throughout her time as an MP, she has worked in various departments including as the Minister for Women and Equalities, the first female Secretary of Defence and Paymaster General in HM Treasury.

READ MORE: Alan Sugar hits out at Piers Morgan on Twitter as Boris Johnson exits Tory leadership race

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak's policies and what to expect from him as Prime Minister 

Penny Mordaunt EU referendum vote and Brexit views

Ms Mordaunt is considered one of the most high-profile politicians to have supported Brexit during the 2016 referendum on EU membership.

Ahead of the May vote, she made the controversial claim that the UK would have no say on whether Turkey could join the EU.

Prime Minister David Cameron had to later deny these claims that the government was "not going to be consulted" on new EU members.

You can view her voting record as well as learn more about her parliamentary career via the UK Parliament website.

Penny Mordaunt's next Conservative leader campaign manifesto

After announcing that she was running in the leadership race in July, Ms Mordaunt declined to describe Mr Johnson as a good Prime Minister, instead thanking him for delivering Brexit.

During her first leadership campaign, she indicated that she would not call an early general election to win her own mandate if she entered No 10.

The naval reservist also pledged to return to traditional Conservative values of “low tax, small state and personal responsibility”.

As part of her platform, she stood by the Conservative manifesto commitment to meet the NATO target for defence spending of 2% of GDP and increase it by 0.5% above inflation every year.

The Tory leader hopeful is said to be “getting the numbers” required to face Rishi Sunak in a ballot of Tory members and is “in it to win it”, according to her campaign.

A spokeswoman said: “Penny is speaking to colleagues from across the party. She’s getting the numbers and she’s in it to win it.”