Boris ally Nadine Dorries claims Tories suffered ‘collective insanity’ in getting rid of PM as she warns party will ‘hugely regret’ his ousting – as Culture Secretary declares ‘all our hopes are on Liz’s shoulders’
- Nadine Dorris warns Tory MPs they will ‘hugely regret’ toppling Boris Johnson
- She claims Conservative Party suffered ‘collective insanity’ in revolt against PM
- Mr Johnson’s belongings are removed from Downing St as he prepares to leave
Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries has warned Tory MPs they will ‘hugely regret’ toppling Boris Johnson as he prepares to hand over to his successor.
The Culture Secretary, who is one of Mr Johnson’s most loyal supporters, claimed the Conservative Party had suffered ‘collective insanity’ in ousting the Prime Minister.
Ms Dorries lashed out at the ‘huge mistake’ made by Tory rebels after they forced Mr Johnson’s resignation this summer.
She pointed to Mr Johnson’s record as an election winner and despaired at the ‘quite bizarre’ actions by the PM’s opponents.
Ms Dorries’ warning to her own party comes ahead of Mr Johnson’s final weekend as PM.
Removal vans were spotted in Downing Street this morning as the Johnsons’ final belongings are taken away from their flat above Number 11.
Nadine Dorries lashed out at the ‘huge mistake’ made by Tory rebels after they forced Boris Johnson’s resignation this summer
The Culture Secretary, who is one of Mr Johnson’s most loyal supporters, claimed the Conservative Party had suffered ‘collective insanity’ in ousting the Prime Minister
Removal vans were spotted in Downing Street this morning as the Johnsons’ final belongings are taken away from their flat above Number 11
Liz Truss, who is widely expected to win the Tory leadership contest and replace Mr Johnson as PM, this week suggested she would not change the decor in the flat
Liz Truss, who is widely expected to win the Tory leadership contest and replace Mr Johnson as PM, this week suggested she would not change the decor in the flat.
The Foreign Secretary said she believed in ‘value for money’ when quizzed on whether she would keep the Johnsons’ decor following their controversial £200,000 refurbishment of the residence.
The PM has been splitting his time between Downing Street and Chequers – his official country residence in Buckinghamshire – during his final weeks in office.
His replacement as Tory leader, whether Ms Truss or Rishi Sunak, will be announced on Monday after the ballot of Conservative Party members closes at 5pm today.
Mr Johnson will then travel to Scotland on Tuesday morning, after making a departing address to the nation from Downing Street, to formally tender his resignation to the Queen at Balmoral.
Once his successor is installed by Tuesday afternoon, following their own audience with Her Majesty, an immediate task of the new Tory leader will be to repair relations within the party after a bruising leadership contest.
And Ms Dorries warned that the nature of Mr Johnson’s downfall is still raw for many.
She told Politico’s Westminster Insider podcast: ‘It was a huge mistake getting rid of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, I think the party will hugely come to regret that.
‘It’s almost collective insanity in my party to have removed a Prime Minister who took us, for the first time in 40 years, to the position of a comfortable majority.
‘I know there are people who just still can’t quite believe what has happened. And I think it will take time for people to realise and to come to learn what happened. But it’s been quite bizarre.’
Ms Dorries, who is supporting Ms Truss for the Tory leadership, added the hopes of Mr Johnson’s allies were now ‘on Liz’s shoulders’.
In a swipe at Mr Sunak, the former Chancellor, the Culture Secretary added: ‘So much of what I’ve wanted to achieve as Cabinet minister in my department has been blocked by the Treasury.’
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