Boris Johnson ally Nadine Dorries insists that 97% of Tory MPs behind prime minister | Politics News

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Nadine Dorries has insisted that 97% of Tory MPs are behind Boris Johnson as the prime minister was hit with a further call to resign.

The culture secretary also told Sky News her cabinet colleague Sajid Javid was 100% behind the prime minister, after the health secretary sought to distance himself from Mr Johnson’s claim that Sir Keir Starmer had failed to prosecute paedophile DJ Jimmy Savile.

Ms Dorries said Mr Javid was “quite shocked” at how his comments on the prime minister’s allegation about the Labor leader had been reported.

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She branded it “disappointing” after former minister Nick Gibb became the 14th Conservative MP to publicly call for Mr Johnson to resign, but said the plotters were in the “absolute minority”.

Confirming he had submitted a letter of no confidence, Mr Gibb said the party must face “hard truths”, and that his constituents were “furious about the double standards” following the partygate revelations.

But referring to the group, Ms Dorries said: “I can promise you that the vast, vast majority of those MPs, 97% of them will be out in their constituencies today, who are delivering on the promises they made to their constituents and Boris Johnson has made to them.”

Seeking to dismiss the critics, she said: “This is an absolute minority in the Conservative Party.

“Because Boris Johnson delivered, and MPs know that, the biggest majority since Margaret Thatcher.

“He has continued to deliver, particularly in those Red Wall and northern constituencies.

“It’s OK for those MPs that have safe majorities, but those MPs out in marginal seats are working incredibly hard and they do make up the vast majority of the Conservative Party.”

Ms Dorries also moved to downplay remarks by Mr Javid after he said Sir Keir deserved “absolute respect” for the job he did as director of public prosecutions and that it was important the prime minister “clarified” his earlier accusation that Sir Keir had failed to prosecute Savile.

Pressed on his intervention, Ms Dorries said: “I spoke to Sajid Javid last night and he reassured me that he is 100% behind the prime minister.

“In fact, I think he’s quite shocked at how his comments have been interpreted.”

She said: “What you’re reporting about Sajid Javid turning his back on the prime minister is not true.”

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