NADINE Dorries has attracted criticism from across the political spectrum after a “nasty, silly, trivial” attack on Rishi Sunak.
Conservative MPs and even a fellow Cabinet Minister have called out the Culture Secretary for her "puerile" attack on the former chancellor.
Dorries has been open in her support of Liz Truss to take over from Boris Johnson as prime minister.
Launching an attack on the former chancellor ahead of his debate with the Foreign Secretary on the BBC on Monday evening, Dorries focused on clothing.
She wrote: “@trussliz will be travelling the country wearing her earrings which cost circa £4.50 from Claire Accessories [sic].
“Meanwhile…Rishi visits Teeside [sic] in Prada shoes worth £450 and sported £3500 bespoke suit as he prepared for crunch leadership vote.”
Dorries shared an article from The Daily Mail, which has also taken a pro-Truss stance, which detailed some of Sunak’s wardrobe choices.
The claim that his suit cost £3500 was based on the brand – Henry Herbert – selling suits from that price and up.
The Culture Secretary’s tweet was welcomed by SNP politicians including Glasgow East MP David Linden.
Sharing a GIF of an audience reacting, Linden responded on Twitter: “Opposition MPs right now as we watch the @Conservatives knock seven shades of excrement out of each other for all to see.
“Fitting that the most dramatic performance should come from the Culture Secretary.”
Opposition MPs right now as we watch the @Conservatives knock seven shades of excrement out of each-other for all to see. Fitting that the most dramatic performance should come from the Culture Secretary. https://t.co/F2rqKMJ5Sz pic.twitter.com/QduO9yZV0c
— David Linden MP (@DavidLinden) July 25, 2022
Labour MP Steve Reed said the Tories were "like rats in a sack".
Also sharing Dorries’s tweet, comedian Janey Godley wrote: “Please Scotland let’s try and get independence away from this utter clown show.”
Angela Richardson, the Tory MP for Guildford, responded: "FFS Nadine! Muted."
Richardson, a Sunak supporter, meant she had "muted" Dorries so that she will no longer see her tweets.
Cabinet Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer added: "Back in Whitehall today – perhaps only a few weeks to make a difference.
"Probably worth remembering that on current trajectory we are out of power in two years' time. The puerile nature of this leadership contest is embarrassing. Time to raise the standards."
Back in Whitehall today - perhaps only a few weeks to make a difference. Probably worth remembering that on current trajectory we are out of power in two years time. The puerile nature of this leadership contest is embarrassing. Time to raise the standards. https://t.co/7XBKgWyAl3
— Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) July 25, 2022
The Tory MP’s attack on the former chancellor was further criticised by right-leaning pundits such as Julia Hartley-Brewer, who wrote: “Really? Is this the level of debate we're going to have?”
Jon Sopel, the former BBC journalist, commented: “This is nuts. Leave aside the obvious irony of a senior Tory going in for a big dollop of class envy, do you think Nadine rang Liz and asked where she got her earrings from and how much they cost in order to make a political point?”
Former home secretary Jacqui Smith added: “This is a nasty, silly, trivial tweet Nadine. I think we need a bit better from Cabinet Ministers and potential future PMs than a vision of you two pointing and sneering at Rishi’s outfit whilst comparing notes on cheap earrings. #MeanGirls”
Other social media users pointed out that Truss has often made headlines for being less than frugal with taxpayers’ money, including insisting on private use of the government’s “Union” jet instead of taking scheduled flights.
Sunak, combined with his wife Akshata Murthy, made the Sunday Times Rich List in 2022 with a wealth of more than £730 million.
The Foreign Secretary is the clear favourite, according to polls, to win a ballot of Tory members and take over from Johnson in No 10.
Truss will face Sunak in a televised debate on the BBC on Monday at 9pm as the former chancellor looks to turn the tables on his rival.
The results of the Tory Party vote will be announced on September 5.
