Penny Mordaunt joins Tory leadership fray as candidates pledge tax cuts

It means nine Tories have now put themselves forward to replace Boris Johnson as Britain's prime minister, just days after a collapse in party support forced his resignation

Penny Mordaunt has launched her bid for the Conservative leadership (PA)

Conservative leadership candidates have come out swinging with pledges to slash taxes and plough on with controversial Brexit plans as a new contender joined the fray.

International trade minister Penny Mordaunt announced on Sunday morning that she will run for the top job, saying Britain's leadership “needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship”.