Row Erupts After Nadine Dorries Shares Shocking “Backstabbing” Image of Rishi Sunak
Conservative tensions boiled over after Nadine Dorries, a staunch Boris Johnson ally, posted a controversial image of Rishi Sunak as Brutus about to stab Boris Johnson’s ‘Julius Caesar’ in the back. The graphic sparked uproar within Tory ranks, with senior MPs slamming the stunt as “dangerous” and in dreadful taste.
Sunak as Brutus Sparks Tory Fury
The image shows Sunak in a Brutus role, poised to betray Johnson, echoing the infamous Roman assassination. Business Minister Greg Hands blasted it as “dangerous,” while Welsh Secretary Sir Robert Buckland branded it “not just incendiary – it’s wrong.” Hands warned the timing was especially crass, recalling that less than a year ago, Conservative MP Sir David Amess was fatally stabbed during a constituency surgery.
“It’s in very bad taste, even dangerous. I find it repugnant,” said Hands. “It’s not even a year since Sir David Amess was stabbed.”
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, a Liz Truss supporter, added: “This is certainly not something I would tweet. It’s not from Liz or her team. Nadine speaks for herself.”
Party Heavyweights Condemn the ‘Divisive’ Image
Senior Tory Simon Hoare denounced Dorries’ move as “divisive, disingenuous, and disturbing,” warning it damages party unity. He reminded followers of the tragic losses of MPs David Amess and Jo Cox.
“With respect, we remember our fallen colleagues David Amess and Jo Cox. Stephen Timms was hurt. I’ll just leave it at that,” Hoare tweeted.
A Dorries ally defended the post as “obviously satirical” and part of longstanding political commentary. The source pointed out that similar provocative cartoons targeting Michael Gove surfaced back in 2016.
Dorries Doubles Down Amid Heated Tory Infighting
The image comes as Ms Dorries ratcheted up her attacks on Sunak, accusing him in the Mail on Sunday of planning a “Tudoresque” coup against Johnson. This follows the fallout after Chris Pincher allegations, which ultimately forced Johnson out.
Previously, Dorries poked fun at Sunak’s “£450 Prada shoes,” comparing them to Liz Truss’s “£4.50 earrings,” sparking accusations of class warfare. She insisted her criticism was aimed at Tory members being “warned not to be misled by appearances.”
“The assassin’s gleaming smile, gentle voice, and even his diminutive stature had many of us well and truly fooled,” Dorries wrote, highlighting Sunak’s choice to wear expensive clothes while visiting deprived Teesside.
With Tory tensions simmering ahead of crucial leadership battles, this backstab brawl shows no sign of cooling soon.
