Nadine Dorries eyes Tory leadership bid to 'keep Johnson alive'

Nadine Dorries is reportedly considering entering the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.

The Culture Secretary is a die-hard staunch supporter of Boris Johnson and believes she can be a candidate of 'continuation' which will take forward the Prime Minister's policies and ideas after he leaves the post later this year.

A source close to Ms Dorries said: 'Nadine is seriously considering throwing her hat to the ring, as she is passionate about Boris' upgrade agenda, Brexit advocacy and the fight against woke culture. She wants to keep Boris' flame burning."

This comes as the Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak - who resigned on Tuesday, sparking the wave of resignations against Mr Johnson - launched his leadership bid.

In a video posted on social media, Mr Sunak promised to "restore confidence" after the Prime Minister's scandalous tenure and has also hinted that he would end the culture wars so hotly fueled by Mr Johnson.

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He is the third candidate to declare his intention to run, alongside Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. ee, and Attorney General Suella Braverman.

Liz Truss, Ben Wallace and Jeremy Hunt are expected to launch their own bids shortly, alongside other rumored Transport Minister Grant Shapps.

A number of surprising names have also emerged among Tory backbenchers who may also be considering a crack in the leadership.

Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti and MP for Basildon and Billericay John Baron, both relatively inexperienced, have also been known to ponder putting their names in the hat.

The ever-growing list of MPs considering a leadership bid makes Tory party leaders nervous as they fear prolonged competition and ever-growing blue-on-blue attacks.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and former minister Michael Gove, who was sacked earlier this week, excluded themselves of the contest, The Independentincludes.

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The first phase of the leadership contest begins with a series of secret b awards by MPs. This list is then whittled down to the final two and is expected to be concluded by July 21, when the Commons is recessed for the summer.

It will then go to a final postal ballot of party members in the country. It is thought that it will probably be concluded by the return of Parliament in early September.