Now the power struggle over Boris Johnson’s successor to the head of the British government is really getting dirty. Culture Minister Nadine Dorries warned her party friends on Sunday not to vote for former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak is a hit man, according to Dorries.
“The killer’s bright smile, soft voice and even his small stature have really deceived many of us,” the minister wrote in an article for the Mail on Sunday. She also retweeted an image showing Sunak as Brutus stabbing the prime minister as Julius Caesar from behind (see tweet below). Dorries is considered one of Johnson’s closest confidants and supports Secretary of State Liz Truss in the election campaign to succeed him. Sunak is walking a “path of betrayal” and has planned a coup against Johnson, the minister continued.
Tory MPs called the messages hateful and divisive. Dorries had previously disapproved of the rich Sunak’s expensive clothes. In the “Mail” she now wrote that she had crossed the line with her criticism of Sunak’s appearance. “I wanted to highlight Rishi’s deceptive dress code to warn Tory members against being misled by appearances, as has happened to many of us who have served in the cabinet of the Treasury,” she said.
State Secretary warns against incendiary statements
Sunak supporter and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Greg Hands called the allegations “tasteless”. On Sky News, he recalled the assassination of Conservative MP David Amess in October 2021. Less than a year had passed since then, Hands said. The statements are dangerous. The ex-treasury secretary has been defending himself for weeks against accusations that he had long planned his candidacy as prime minister and that his resignation ultimately put an end to Johnson. The outgoing Prime Minister also reacted accordingly.
New prime minister to be elected in September
Truss and Sunak were elected in several rounds of voting by members of the Conservative Group. From Monday, the Tory members will decide on the new party leader. They have one month to vote. The results will be announced on September 5. The winner will also move to the Downing Street government seat. Truss is considered the favorite.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
