Nadine Dorries, a prominent supporter of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has officially tendered her resignation while delivering a scathing critique of her successor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a candid resignation letter. Dorries had made her intention to resign known 11 weeks ago, and she continued to fulfill her duties as a member of parliament during the investigation into her omission from the House of Lords appointments list.
Dorries’ resignation letter, which she shared on social media platforms, levied strong accusations against Prime Minister Sunak. She alleged that Sunak orchestrated attacks against her, which led to police visits and threats to her safety. Expressing her deep disappointment in the government’s current trajectory under Sunak’s leadership, she remarked that “the Government is adrift.” She further accused Sunak of departing from the fundamental principles of Conservatism that she believes should guide the party’s actions.
The controversy surrounding Dorries’ exclusion from the House of Lords appointments list in Boris Johnson’s honours list upon his resignation raised eyebrows within Johnson’s inner circle. There were speculations of potential interference from Sunak and Downing Street. While individuals associated with the “Partygate” scandal and fellow advocates of Brexit were recognized, Dorries’ absence ignited controversy. Sunak’s spokesperson refuted claims that names had been removed from the list before its submission to a House of Lords vetting committee.
The disagreements over the honours list in June led to the resignations of both Nigel Adams and Boris Johnson as Members of Parliament. Simultaneously, Nadine Dorries announced her intention to step down. These resignations orchestrated by Sunak’s Conservatives prompted by-elections, occurring at a time when the party trailed behind the Labour Party in the polls. These events occurred in the lead-up to the impending general election slated for the following year.
While these political shifts resulted in the Conservative party losing Nigel Adams’ parliamentary seat, they managed to retain Boris Johnson’s constituency. This retention was partially influenced by the contentious extension of a vehicle pollution tax to outer London, initiated by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, which stirred public sentiment in favor of the Conservatives.
