Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has faced backlash after she mocked Rishi Sunak for his expensive taste in clothes.
Ms Dorries, a supporter of Mr Sunak’s leadership rival Liz Truss, pointed to reports the millionaire former Chancellor was pictured wearing a £3,500 suit and £490 Prada shoes.
She said Foreign Secretary Ms Truss was more likely to be seen in a £4.50 pair of earrings from the Claire’s chain.
.@trusslizwill travel the country wearing her earrings which cost around £4.50 at Claire Accessories. Meanwhile…
Rishi visits Teeside in £450 Prada shoes and sported a bespoke £3,500 suit as he prepares for a decisive leadership vote. https://t.co/1VO4xLwQ66
—Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) July 25, 2022
But Ms Dorries herself has previously spoken of having a pair of £6,000 diamond earrings and told reporters ‘I don’t skimp on jewellery’, going so far as to design her own bespoke pieces .
The row over Mr Sunak’s wardrobe is the latest sign of the bitter and personal nature of the battle for Tory leadership.
Cabinet Secretary Johnny Mercer has warned that the “childish” nature of the competition could see the Tories ousted from power in the next election.
“The childish nature of this leadership race is embarrassing,” he said. “It’s time to raise the standards.”
Guildford MP Angela Richardson, a supporter of Mr Sunak, simply wrote: ‘FFS (for the love of f*****) Nadine! Muted.”
Mr Sunak was seen wearing a Henry Herbert suit – reportedly worth £3,500 – ahead of the vote which saw him and Ms Truss selected by Tory MPs as the final two candidates to be next leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister.
(PA graphics)Her choice of Prada shoes during a visit to a construction site in Redcar also caught Ms Dorries’ attention.
The Culture Secretary wrote that Ms Truss “will be traveling the country with her earrings which cost around £4.50 at Claire Accessories.
‘Meanwhile…Rishi visits Teeside in £450 Prada shoes and sported a bespoke £3,500 suit as he prepares for a decisive leadership vote.’