Mordaunt Appointed New UK Minister for Int'l Development After Patel's Scandal

Theresa May's office confirmed Thursday that Penny Mordaunt was appointed Britain's new minister for international development.

UK Queen Elizabeth II has approved Mordaunt's appointment, Downing Street said later.

"The Queen has been pleased to approve the following appointments: Penny Mordaunt MP as Secretary of State for International Development, Sarah Newton MP as Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, Victoria Atkins MP as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office," the government's statement said.

Mordaunt, 44, who was previously the minister of state for the department for work and pensions, substituted Priti Patel who stepped down on Wednesday.

Former holder of the office Priti Patel had to resign on Wednesday, following a scandal around her unofficial meetings with Israeli officials.

Patel broke ministerial rules when, while on vacation in August, she met with politicians and businessmen from Israel without informing the UK Foreign Office or Downing Street; however, in an interview with the Guardian on Friday, Patel did claim she informed Boris Johnson, UK secretary of state for foreign affairs, about the meetings. She also added that the Foreign Office had known about the meetings, but "briefed against her."

The following Monday, Patel was forced to apologize and retract her Friday statements. In total Patel revealed she had 12 meetings in Israel.