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LONDON — Boris Johnson accused his successor Rishi Sunak of being a “stooge” installed at the behest of Johnson-adviser-turned nemesis Dominic Cummings.
In his most direct criticism yet of the current U.K. prime minister, Johnson also said Sunak had left the governing Conservatives “drifting to defeat” with no clear strategy.
The comments came in an interview with Nadine Dorries, a staunch Johnson ally who has just published a book on what she calls the “political assassination” of the ex-prime minister.
Johnson was forced from office in 2022 after a series of scandals, with the resignation of Sunak — then-Johnson’s lead finance minister — dealing his administration a mortal blow.
In his interview with Dorries, Johnson claimed his own former adviser Cummings had always wanted to get Sunak into the top job.
“I heard that Cummings has said he started to plot to get rid of me in January 2020,” Johnson said. “The plot was always to get Rishi in. I just couldn’t see it at the time. It’s like this Manchurian candidate, their stooge.”
‘Giant conspiracy’
Cummings, a fierce critic of Johnson since leaving Downing Street in 2021, has already dismissed claims by Dorries of a “plot” to remove Johnson from office.
He quipped this week: “She’s right, there was a giant conspiracy including MI6, the CIA and, most crucially, the KGB special operations department. It’s a tribute to Nadine she has figured this out. The movement wishes her well.”
Elsewhere, Johnson used his interview with Dorries to pile into Sunak’s governing strategy and argue it needs “a massive kick in the pants” and “a positive agenda for change in the country.”
“You know, people still feel hacked off. They voted for change in 2019 and they are drifting back to Labour in those Brexit seats because they are not seeing a changed government,” he argued. “Nothing to rally behind, nothing; we are just drifting to defeat.”
Johnson said he felt a “massive, massive sense of frustration” at his ouster and argues he “could have kept the whole thing going” with the support of his Cabinet.
But he offers some sage advice for those dwelling on their own downfall: “Never be bitter, no good can come from it.”
