Nadine Dorries hates people who say she 'loves' Boris Johnson

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Nadine Dorries has said she hates people saying she must 'love' Boris Johnson as the Tory MP dismissed the idea that she was anything but 'friend of the former prime minister.

The ex-culture secretary said Mr Johnson was someone she could call 'in the middle of the night' and talk to for hours - but insisted she was as close to Carrie Johnson as she is to her husband.

Ms Dorries also suggested that Mr Johnson should get rich before he launch his political comeback, because being prime minister is hard "unless you're a multi-millionaire".

"He'll be back. I don't know when, I don't know how, I don't know if this be 10 years or 10 months,” the staunch ally told The House magazine.

< p>“I used to say that to be Prime Minister you have to be rich because it costs a lot dear," she said. "It's part of the role to invite people to Chequers, but you have to pay for every cup of tea out of your own pocket."

The former minister added: "So unless you're not a multi-millionaire, that's a problem."

On her friendship with the former Prime Minister, she said: "I could call Boris in the middle of the night if I had a problem and I know he would be here for hours talking to me. I had lunch with him the other morning. Him and Carrie, I would both consider good friends."

She added, "I hate the whole thing: 'Oh, she must love it.' that I love Boris."

Ms Dorries is said to be on the former Prime Minister's nomination list for peerages, along with fellow Tory MPs Alok Sharma, Alister Jack and Nigel Adams.

"I was told that I would probably receive a letter if I was I was nominated, wondering if I would be inclined to accept it. I haven't received any,' said Ms Dorries, who declined to say whether she would step down from her seat in Mid Bedfordshire and enter the upper house. "I'll make the decision if I ever get the offer."

Ms Dorries also warned Rishi Sunak's government not to delay or water down its online safety bill, aimed at regulate Twitter and the social media giants in an attempt to prevent harmful behavior.

"There is absolutely no reason the bill shouldn't...