Tories Call on Rishi Sunak to Listen to Nadine Dorries Amidst Resignation Drama
Updated: 27 August 2023
By Martin Beckford, Policy Editor
Last night, the spotlight turned on Rishi Sunak as he faced calls to pay heed to Nadine Dorries’ no-nonsense resignation letter. It seems like the Tories need to dust off their old-school playbook of slashing taxes and reining in spending if they want to avoid stirring up frustration among their base.
Nadine Dorries, the now-former Cabinet minister, didn’t hold back in her letter, essentially telling the Prime Minister that his ship is lost at sea. Downing Street, meanwhile, remained tight-lipped, not wanting to pour salt on the wound. But her letter wasn’t just a drop in the pond; it caused some serious ripples in the party.
Sir John Redwood, a big shot in the Tory world, chimed in, basically advising the Prime Minister to put his money where his mouth is: “If you’re all about good Conservative reforms, then let’s start with tax cuts, spending control, and ending the war on motorists.” Not your usual dinner table chit-chat, huh?
You might be wondering if Ms. Dorries wants the PM to do a spectacular faceplant. Well, she didn’t explicitly say so, but she listed a bunch of things gone wrong like she was reeling off a grocery list. The grand finale? Rishi’s been stalling on promises and kicking stuff down the road ever since he grabbed the reins.
But wait, there’s more drama! Ms. Dorries pulling the plug means a big ol’ by-election in Mid Bedfordshire in October. This has been Tory territory for ages, and it’s been like a guaranteed win thanks to Ms. Dorries. Her majority’s been puffing up like a marshmallow on a bonfire, going from 11,355 in 2005 to 24,664 in 2019.
She dropped a bombshell, saying her party pals begged her to stick around like a clingy ex because losing this seat would be like a legendary by-election loss. She wasn’t holding back on the theatrics.
You’re probably wondering if she’s gunning for a PM takedown. Well, she didn’t exactly say she’s out for blood, but she did point out a bunch of mess-ups like a teacher marking a bunch of red crosses. Housebuilding goals – check, leaseholder reform – check, new social care system – check, check. She’s got a bone to pick with Rishi’s timeline.
Now, this whole party pooper episode might leave you wondering if the PM’s side of the story is sleeping on the job. Fear not, the veterans’ minister, Johnny Mercer, popped up to say defense spending isn’t exactly on a diet. He politely disagreed with Nadine’s assessment, essentially saying, “Well, that’s one way to see it.”
Some lady named Claire Bullivant, who seems to have a knack for saying smart stuff, pointed out that Nadine’s exit and her dramatic letter just shine a spotlight on the concerns that many are whispering about. And, let’s not forget, the Tories got elected thanks to a 2019 manifesto, and apparently, nobody told them they could just wing it.
So, in short, Rishi’s in the hot seat, Nadine’s out in the cold, and the Tories are like, “Hey, remember that manifesto?” We’re all just waiting to see if they’ll actually chop taxes once they’re done putting out fires. Stay tuned, folks. 🍿