I don't believe it!

I confess. I’ve bought a copy (remaindered) of Nadine ‘Mad Nad’ Dorries’ book Downfall: The Self-Destruction Of The Conservative Party. It is, as you might expect from this author of fiction a racy read, part political thriller, gay porn and sour grapes. Dorries and I shared a corridor in the Norman Shaw North building in Westminster but I rarely encountered her, perhaps thankfully. But this book takes the biscuit and I would actually recommend it, if you can get hold of a cheap copy. It was published in October 2024 so still has some contemporary relevance, and importantly perhaps was published shortly before Kemi Badenoch was elected leader of the Conservative Party in November 2024. From what Dorries writes it seems that Badenoch has her very own Morgan McSweeney, by the name of Dougie Smith a long-term fixer in the Tory party and who knows, somebody on whom Starmer’s McSweeney modelled some of his modus operandi. It seems not a lot is known about Smith, though Dorries claims says he is an old friend of Badenoch’s hubby. Who you know and all that. Given that the Tories look like a busted flush at present does it really matter very much how they got into their current parlous state and who now leads them? I think it does, since there seems to be a pattern of behaviour which is partly reflected in the Labour Party and I would venture certainly in the so-called Reform UK party although in the latter case it’s possible Nigel Farage has no need of a Svengali. Even in Mad Nad’s book there could be some useful insights as to how things really are.
 
A lot of Dorries’ book is based on verbatim interviews with unnamed sources, ex-MPs, Cabinet Ministers, ex-SPADS and so on, so it can be frustrating not knowing how much faith to invest in the truth of what they’re saying - if they said it at all. It seems Dorries recorded her interviews with these characters, transcribed their words and then erased the recordings. Anonymity has its advantages if it solicits otherwise unspeakable testimony, much of it salacious it has to be said. But it’s possible a pinch of salt is called for, although this story tends to bear out an old adage that Tory MPs (having money) would embroil themselves in sexual scandals whereas Labour MPs embroiled themselves in money scandals (I met one such).
 
Let me suggest that the way of doing politics, represented by the ‘legacy’ parties has shredded any public faith in their capacity to act with honour. The fixes, shenanigans, back-stabbing and wide ranging venal behaviour has finally caught up with them. The latest stuff about Mandelson does nothing to dispel the public’s distrust, dismay and disgust. Nor I might add Keir Starmer's wardrobe.