PM WARNED IN THE VEINS THAT REGICIDE RUNS OF THE TORY PARTY
CULTURE Secretary Nadine Dorries has insisted the vast majority of Tory MPS back Boris Johnson – but then warned him that the party is notorious for killing its king.
Ms Dorries, one of the Prime Minister’s most loyal allies, said: “There are the small group of disaffected voices who called for David Cameron to go, called for Theresa May to go, call for Boris Johnson to go, who will never be happy with any prime minister.
“You know, regicide runs in the veins of my party.”
She also said that Mr Johnson had the support of “97 per cent” of his MPS and is delivering the changes that he had promised after the Partygate scandal.
Those MPS “will be out in their
constituencies today, delivering on the promises they made to their constituents and Boris Johnson has made to them,” she said.
But the Sunday Express has been told by another senior minister that Mr Johnson may not be able to count on his cabinet if a vote of no confidence is triggered.
Asked if 90 per cent of the front bench would back him, the minister said: “He can’t rely on that by any means.”
The threat of ministerial resignations or a coup has been heightened by reports that Health Secretary Sajid Javid has turned on the Prime Minister. Mr Javid is said to be “sickened” by the remark Mr
Johnson made about Sir Keir Starmer and Jimmy Savile. The Prime Minister wrongly said Sir Keir, when he was director of public prosecutions, failed to prosecute Savile.
Mr Javid said Sir Keir deserved “absolute respect” for the job he did and that it was important the Prime Minister “clarified” his accusation.
But when Ms Dorries was asked about Mr Javid’s intervention she told Sky News: “I spoke to Sajid Javid last night and he reassured me that he is 100 per cent behind the Prime Minister. In fact, I think he’s quite shocked at how his comments have been interpreted.
“What you’re reporting about Sajid Javid turning his back on the Prime Minister is not true.”
Speaking to Times Radio, she said she believed that Tory MPS, particu
larly in the former Labour Red Wall seats, would remember that it was Mr Johnson who had delivered them their victories.
Asked why MPS were putting in letters about Partygate, she made her comment about regicide, then said: “What I would say is there are 367 MPS – this is a small group.
“And it really is important that people don’t get hung up on ‘oh
there’s eight, or 10’ or, you know, even 20 or 30.There’s 360.
“Many of them are in marginal seats in the north of England, who are very much focused on delivering on the promises in those constituencies.
“They’re not MPS in comfortable, safe seats.and many of those voices that you’re hearing complaining are. Those MPS in
marginal seats are working damn hard. And they want Boris Johnson in place because they know that it was Boris Johnson that delivered their seats to them, in the biggest election victory since Margaret Thatcher. And that’s going to keep them there.”
The Culture Secretary carried out a range of interviews yesterday in support of the PM. She said
he was “very positive” when he communicated with her.
She added: “The Prime Minister, when he appeared for the 1922 Committee [of backbench Tory MPS] last week, promised to change, and I think anybody who picks up a newspaper or sees a television news bulletin can see that a huge amount of change is under way at present, particularly in
No10.” She added: “The Prime Minister does tell the truth.”
However, Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond disagreed with Ms Dorries’s suggestion that those who wanted the PM to go were Remainers or had always opposed Mr Johnson.
Mr Hammond said he is “considering very carefully this weekend” whether he still has confidence in the Prime Minister, and it “certainly looks like” the beginning of the end.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Week In Westminster show: “All the rubbish written in some of the rightwing red tops about a Remainer plot, that is complete nonsense.
“As far as I can see, the people who so far declared that they’ve written a letter are from all wings of the party and none.”
‘The PM is still
very positive’
He added it was “predictable rubbish from a predictable source” to suggest those who wanted the PM to resign were all from a group of usual suspects.
He said: “I was on his campaign committee in 2008 and 2012, when he was running for Mayor of London, I’ve known Boris for all that time.the idea that I’ve always been against him is just nonsense.
“If you look at where the letters are coming from, I don’t understand how anyone could stand up that claim. Probably the Secretary of State needs to think again.”
Former minister Dr Liam Fox said he is “waiting to see what comes out of” the full Sue Gray report into Partygate.
The Conservative MP for North Somerset said: “There’s nothing new to say on this debate. Not only is it diminishing the focus that we’ve got on other big issues, I’m worried that we’re becoming a one-issue political system.”