WORLD VISION UK has called on the newly appointed International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt to prioritise vulnerable children over attempts to “court” those in power.

The Prime Minister appointed Ms Mordaunt on Thursday afternoon to replace Priti Patel, who resigned from the post on Wednesday night after admitting to secretly meeting with Israeli politicians without permission from the Government while on holiday in the Holy Land in August.

It was later revealed by the BBC that Ms Patel had held two further meetings with Israeli ministers in September without the permission of the Government. She was summoned back from an official trip to Uganda and Ethiopia by Downing Street this week.

Sarah Newton, formally a junior Home Office minister, replaced Ms Mordaunt as Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions in the cabinet reshuffle on Thursday. Victoria Atkins joined the Government as a junior Home Office minister.

Ms Mordaunt, like Ms Patel, was an advocate of the Leave campaign. She is a Royal Navy reservist and was appointed as the first female minister for the Armed Forces two years ago.

The Head of policy, advocacy, and campaigns for World Vision UK, Gavin Crowden, said that Ms Mordaunt “must demonstrate real leadership and an understanding of – and sensitivity to – the international development context. It is vital that Britain leads the world in building a better future for vulnerable children and their communities.”