In a spectacular and fiery broadside, former Cabinet Minister Nadine Dorries has launched a devastating attack on Rishi Sunak's premiership, accusing him of presiding over an 'unelected' Downing Street that has hijacked the Conservative Party.
The ex-Culture Secretary, a staunch ally of Boris Johnson, pulled no punches in her assessment of the current Prime Minister's tenure. She declared that the Conservative Party under Sunak is 'unrecognisable' and has 'abandoned the fundamental principles of Conservatism'.
A Government Adrift from its Mandate
Dorries's central accusation is that Sunak lacks a democratic mandate from the party membership, having been installed by MPs after the tumultuous departures of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. She contends that this has resulted in a government with no authentic claim to the 2019 manifesto that delivered a historic 80-seat majority.
'This is not the Conservative Party that the British public voted for in overwhelming numbers,' Dorries asserted, suggesting that the government's current trajectory is a direct betrayal of the pledges made to the Red Wall voters who lent their support to Boris Johnson.
The Great Betrayal of Brexit
Perhaps her most potent criticism centres on Brexit. Dorries alleges that Sunak's administration has 'squandered the opportunities' presented by leaving the EU. Instead of forging a new, global destiny for Britain, she claims the government has become mired in bureaucracy and has failed to deliver the promised dividends of independence, leaving Leave voters feeling utterly let down.
A Party at War With Itself
The intervention highlights the deep and bitter civil war raging within the Tory party. Dorries's comments are seen as a rallying cry for the Johnsonite wing of the party, which feels marginalised and disillusioned with Sunak's leadership style and policy direction.
This very public airing of grievances signals a party deeply divided, not just on policy, but on its very identity and purpose. With a general election looming, such internal discord presents a significant threat to Conservative unity and electoral prospects.
The explosive nature of Dorries's claims ensures this story will dominate the political discourse, fuelling debates about leadership, legitimacy, and the future direction of the United Kingdom.
