‘Dorries oughtto resign too’ says festival co-founder

THE CO-FOUNDER of Parklife festival has criticised Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries for defending Boris Johnson instead of focusing on industry, saying it is “embarrassing”.

Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said should spend less time “in the media saving Boris’s job” and called for her to resign.

Ms Dorries made headlines on Monday evening after insisting “the Prime Minister tells the truth”, amid criticism of comments made by Mr Johnson in Parliament.

She spoke out after the Prime Minister’s statement about the Sue Gray report, when Mr Johnson accused Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute paedophile Jimmy Savile.

Mr Lord said: “Boris Johnson should resign, but slowly following him has to be Nadine Dorries – I tried to make contact with her as have colleagues as well and she is not communicating.

“We could do so much if we had a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport that was actually interested, rather than just spend all of the time in the media saving Boris’s job.

“She doesn’t get culture, she does not get it, I just think it’s embarrassing.

“I hope if there is a reshuffle that we get somebody who understands our industry because we are battered and bruised at the moment.”

Mr Lord was appointed to the Labour-led GMCA by Greater Manchester Mayor and ex-Labour MP Andy Burnham.

Regarding the allegations of several parties being held at Downing Street whilst the country was under coronavirus restrictions, Mr Lord said the public had already lost faith in the Prime Minister.