Tory ghosts were out in force last night for the launch of Nadine Dorries’s new book, The Plot. Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss showed up, while Boris Johnson gave a supportive speech in which he compared “Nads” to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Russian dissident who was imprisoned for criticising Stalin. “She's got more balls than the cabinet,” he added. In her book, Dorries describes an elaborate conspiracy to bring Johnson down.
The party was held at private members’ club 5 Hertford Street, where Dorries held covert meetings with her litany of secret contacts. She describes herself in the book as a “regular” of the club. “There are worse places to base yourself when you are writing a book than in a secret nook in Mayfair where someone brings you food and drink all day long," she wrote.
Dorries took a particular shine to a manager, Christian, who was discreet with her guests and would bring “a nice cognac” to round off meetings. Did Nads enjoy railing against “privileged posh boy” Rishi Sunak in her elite new hangout?
5 Hertford Street has long been a favourite Tory watering hole. Its owner Robin Birley is a donor to the party and half brother of Lord Goldsmith, a former minister. When Liz Truss was trade secretary she insisted that a lunch with US officials be held at the club, despite civil servants begging her to pick a cheaper venue. The boozy lunch was set to use £3,000 of public funds, but the club ended up giving half off. Truss also got herself into hot water for failing to declare gifts from Birley, including a “Fizz with Liz” champagne dinner to schmooze Tory MPs when she was Foreign Secretary.
