Boris Johnson “will be back”, according to one of his most loyal supporters, as she claimed that MPs are regretting ousting the Prime Minister.
Nadine Dorries, who has been an ardent backer of Johnson, also suggested that the outgoing Conservative leader has a “level of genius”.
It comes amidst the contest to replace Johnson as leader of the party and become the next prime minister.
Grant Shapps on Tuesday withdrew from the contest, whilst home secretary Priti Patel also ruled herself out after mulling a bid.
In an interview with GB News, Dorries, the UK’s culture secretary since September last year, described the removal of Johnson from No 10 as “tragic”, as she criticised those who moved against him.
“14 million people voted for the Prime Minister and a number of MPs, via a coup frankly, removed him,” Dorries said.
“It’s sad, it’s tragic, it’s difficult because, you know, we thrive on a democracy, but I think there’s a way through this.
“The Prime Minister’s gone, he’s not coming back. I think there’s a lot of buyer’s remorse. I think a number of people are thinking, ‘what have we done?’, and I think that’s evident by just what’s happened over the last few days.
“But, I think we need to now focus on the future and find a candidate who is going to continue the policies people voted for.
“The sad thing is that many, many people actually voted for Boris Johnson himself.”
Dorries set out her level of devotion to Johnson as she defended backing the Prime Minister during his premiership.
She said: “If I pledge my loyalty to you, I will die in a ditch for you. I will never break my loyalty to you.
“And my loyalty is also to the British people and I’m proud of that. You know, they can bring on as much approbation and sarcasm and unpleasantness towards me as they want for me doing that, but I’d do it all again.”
The Cabinet secretary suggested that the appeal of Johnson is that people feel they can relate to him.
“I believe that. It’s not just me, I can assure you that my phone is full of messages from people saying he’ll be back,” she said.
“When you’ve got somebody who has his uniqueness, his appeal, his level of genius, you’re not going to get a male, stale and pale individual, you’re going to get someone who’s going to bring challenges.
“And I’m afraid that is what we get with Boris.”
She continued: “He makes mistakes, he makes gaffes, so does everybody in the country, that’s why they like him because it’s like looking at a reflection – ‘I make mistakes, I make gaffes, I get it wrong too’.
“And he isn’t afraid to say that and people see it and understand it. And I definitely think one day Boris Johnson will be back.”
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