Nadine Dorries says historian's new book backs up her claim that a Tory fixer plotted to bring down its leaders - and warns he may still be pulling the strings

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 17:00 EDT, 5 September 2026 | Updated: 17:17 EDT, 5 September 2026 Nadine Dorries says a new book by historian Sir Anthony Seldon vindicates her claim that a Tory fixer plotted to bring down its leaders – and warns he may still be pulling the party's strings.In 2023, Ms Dorries described in her book The Plot how a small group of men had been controlling the party's destiny.She said Tory official Dougie Smith conspired with Michael Gove and Dominic Cummings to bring down Boris Johnson and he also wreaked havoc on Iain Duncan Smith, Theresa May and Liz Truss. They denied the claims. Now Sir Anthony has detailed the role played by Mr Smith, who held a No 10 pass from 2010-24.In his book, Sunak At 10: The Last Conservative Prime Minister?, Sir Anthony says Mr Smith helped Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak to gain power but then plotted to bring them down. He writes that, in 2022, when Mr Sunak was considering whether to resign as Chancellor to try to force Mr Johnson out of No 10, Mr Smith told him: 'Quit now. Get clear of this shit-show. Boris is going down.' Nadine Dorries says a new book by historian Sir Anthony Seldon vindicates her claim that a Tory fixer plotted to bring down Boris Johnson Top Tory official Dougie Smith - said to be part of 'the movement' controlling access to the Tory leadership In 2023, Ms Dorries described in her book The Plot how a small group of men had been controlling the party's destinyMr Sunak quit and soon after Mr Johnson was gone.Once Mr Sunak became PM, Mr Smith allegedly told him to take tougher action on immigration, saying his policies 'won't f***ing work' and he was 'finished'. Ms Dorries said: 'I am delighted that Anthony Seldon has verified what I [wrote]. Dougie Smith has run the Conservative Party for years.'He decides who will be leader of the party, who will be PM and for how long. Kemi Badenoch may discover it won't be too long before Smith is working to remove her, if he isn't already.'