Johnson successor: Minister insults Sunak as an "assassin" and speaks of a "coup"

Created: 07/31/2022, 19:00

By: Marcus Giebel

His "gentle smile" is only supposed to be a facade: Rishi Sunak is facing serious allegations for his campaign to succeed Boris Johnson.

© PETER NICHOLLS/afp

The Tories are fighting hard in the search for a successor to Boris Johnson.

A minister expresses strong allegations, but also encounters opposition.

Munich – The Tories are in the middle of the election campaign.

They don't really have to fear any political opponents, because after Boris Johnson's resignation, it's "only" about the presidency of the Conservative Party and the associated office of Prime Minister.

So everything stays in the family.

If you think so.

And yet the ruling party is currently giving the best visual lesson on how internal elections can degenerate into veritable mud fights.

Even if the decision of the Tory members between the ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, who is favored within the parliamentary group, and Foreign Minister Liz Truss is only to be made in just under six weeks, the distribution is already more uncompromising than in many election campaigns involving several parties.

Culture Minister Nadine Dorries openly attacks her former cabinet colleague in the

.

Johnson successor: Minister complains about "Rishi's misguided style of clothing"

She accuses Sunak of sawing Johnson's chair in drastic terms.

After facing severe criticism for comparing the outfits of the two successor candidates, Dorries writes that she wanted to "point out Rishi's misguided style of dress to warn Tory members against being deceived by looks, as has happened to many of us who served with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Cabinet".

Then she reaches below the belt: "The assassin's soft smile, his soft voice and even his tiny stature really deceived many of us." metaphorically stabbed in the back".

Fittingly, Dorries retweeted a montage in which Caesar carries Johnson's head on his neck and Brutus stands behind him with Sunak's likeness, knife raised.

Video: Johnson successor – Truss and Sunak fight hard TV duel

Sunak or Truss?

Dorries sees ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer on 'treason'

She also spoke of a "path of treason" with which he "probably will not win the hearts and minds of Conservative Party members, who value loyalty and decency above all."

On top of that, Dorries called the alleged coup "Tudoresque in its brutality" in reference to a legendary Welsh noble family.

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Once again, she complained that Johnson's successor candidate comes from a well-heeled family: "Rishi will never know what it's like to feel scared, broke and hopeless without the safety net of wealthy parents.

He never had to lie up at night worrying about how to pay the bills.

A bailiff will never knock on his door.”

Don't be at a loss for clear words: Minister of Culture Nadine Dorries supports Liz Truss.

© IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Tories seek Johnson successor: Sunak branded a 'classic spoilsport'

But in the end he can't do anything about his origins.

But Dorries's political verdict also sounds devastating: “As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi was a classic spoilsport.

Whenever Boris came to him to discuss problems, he was polite but not forthcoming.

Never a team player.” She also blames Sunak for tax policy – ​​especially with regard to inflation.

That's enough of the dirty laundry washed.

According to Dorries, there can only be one choice for Tory members.

Much more than a recommendation on where to tick the box.

But in politics this is still part of business.

Contrary to the choice of words.

There is also fierce resistance.

Posts portraying Sunak as a kind of kingslayer are considered by many Tory MPs to be abhorrent and divisive.

Economic Secretary George Hands, who is considered a supporter of the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, called the allegations "tasteless".

channel , he

even recalled the murder of Conservative MP David Amess in October 2021. Not even a year has passed since then, and the statements are extremely dangerous.