CULTURE Secretary Nadine Dorries has claimed there is a “very well-organised campaign” against Boris Johnson from those who believe they should be the next prime minister.

Speaking to Sky News after inadvertently admitting her government's pandemic preparedness was "found wanting" in a scrap with former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, Dorries got stuck in to those planning to vote against Johnson in the no-confidence vote.

Dorries said her criticism of Hunt was “not personal” after launching the attack on him earlier on Monday. Some had suggested that her intervention had the effect of helping Tory rebels.

Asked if her comments have exacerbated the Conservative divide, she told Sky News that Hunt has “come out today himself and said that he has time for change – I think what he means is it’s time for him.

“I don’t want to talk about individual personalities but what I would say is that you can’t say repeatedly that you’re not going to challenge the Prime Minister when there’s a war in Ukraine, and on the day Russia fires rockets into Kyiv decide that it is time for change of leader – I’m afraid that’s just not acceptable.”

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She said later her criticism is “not personal”, before adding that if people are shocked by her comments against Hunt, “they are probably going to vote against the Prime Minister”.

Dorries added that the notion her attack could in fact help Hunt was “nonsense”.

The Culture Secretary continued her defence of the Tory chief, telling Sky's Beth Rigby: “Anyone who says that this isn’t being co-ordinated and isn’t being organised behind the scenes, I’m afraid, is not telling you the truth.

“This is a very well-organised campaign. It’s a perfect storm for some – it’s remainers who are taking in others who are disaffected and, for a number of reasons, those who who’ve lost their jobs in cabinet or as ministers, and I’m afraid anyone who says that this isn’t organised is not telling you the truth.

“It is a very well-organised campaign by a small number of individuals, some who believe that they should be the next prime minister.”

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Asked which individuals, she said: “I’m not going to say but it’s a small number of individuals who’ve organised and whipped up this storm, and I’m afraid we’re going to reach a point where people aren’t going to vote for the Conservative Party because people don’t vote for divided parties.

“So, we need to get this vote over and done with, and those MPs need to hear a clear message.”

Dorries said she thinks it is “utterly bizarre” that a small group of MPs could overrule the mandate Johnson won in the 2019 General Election.

Asked if she is concerned about the vote, she told Sky News: “No, I’m not worried at all. In fact, I’d like to get this vote out of the way so that we can get on focusing on the issues that really need to be focused on.”

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Referring to Johnson’s 2019 electoral victory, she added: “I find it utterly bizarre that a small number of MPs think that they can overrule that vote of 14 million people.

“It’s quite something that they think they can do that and so let’s get this vote done, let’s move on tomorrow.

“The Prime Minister is going to win comfortably tonight and we can move on.”