Nadine Dorries says Boris Johnson was one of the world’s ‘great leaders’

Jack Peat

The former culture secretary said recent polling showed people voted for Boris – not the Conservatives

Nadine Dorries says Boris Johnson was among the world’s “greatest leaders” before he was ousted as Prime Minister.

In a gushing interview with the Times, the former culture secretary expressed her dismay over the recent polls by YouGov that suggested Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party a 33-point lead over the Tories.

Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget has plunged markets into a downward spiral, with the pound falling to record lows and the Bank of England having to intervene to prevent pension funds from facing insolvency.

Liz Truss has since pinned the blame on the Chancellor as she moved to distance herself from the turmoil, something Dorries says Boris would never do.

One of @BorisJohnson faults was that he could sometimes be too loyal and he got that. However, there is a balance and throwing your Chancellor under a bus on the first day of conference really isn’t it. 🤞 things improve and settle down from now. https://t.co/72cBRWo2c1

— Rt Hon Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) October 2, 2022

Speaking to the Times, Dorries said: “The day they ousted Boris we were five points behind in the polls, which was actually fantastic.

“To be only five points behind in the polls when you have been in power for 12 years was an incredible place to be.

“Those of us who had been around in politics for more than five minutes knew in the full heat of the general election campaign that would burn away like the June mist on a morning lawn.

“At the time it seemed utterly incomprehensible the position MPs were about to put the Government in by removing our most electorally successful prime minister.”

The MP said that the exit of Mr Johnson left her “baffled and bewildered.”

She said: “It’s the personality, the character that people voted for as well as the policies.

“In recent experience it was clear that people voted not always for the Conservatives — they voted for Boris.”

#KayBurley – To what extent do you blame Rishi Sunak for Boris Johnson's demise?

Nadine Dorries – "Boris Johnson was removed via a coup…"#BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/3kz285Znj7

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) July 28, 2022

A petition calling for an immediate general election following the economic fallout of the government’s mini-budget has reached 100,000 signatures, meaning it must be considered for debate in parliament.

This was confirmed in an update on the campaign’s page, which simply reads: “Parliament will consider this for a debate.”

At the time of writing, the petition has amassed 377,000 signatures.

The petition reads: “The chaos engulfing the UK government is unprecedented.

“Over 40 ministers resigned leaving departments without leadership during cost of living, energy and climate crises.

“War rages in Ukraine; the Northern Ireland Protocol has further damaged our relationship with Europe; recession looms; the UK itself may cease to exist as Scotland seeks independence.

“This is the greatest set of challenges we have seen in our lifetimes. Let the people decide who leads us through this turmoil.”

It adds: “Call an immediate general election so that the people can decide who should lead us through these unprecedented crises threatening the UK.”