‘I would make a stand. For Boris. My rock’ – Nadine Dorries’ The Plot, digested by John Crace

‘Believe me, it’s quite some feat to make such a ridiculous story so crushingly dull and repetitive.’ Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP

The book I had originally intended to write was about how my darling Boris was removed as prime minister. But what I learned turned out to be far bigger than that. No less than a 25-year plot against the Conservative party by the Conservative party. I know this may cost me the peerage I so richly deserve for having been a below-average cabinet minister, but I can’t ignore the voices I heard during my research. One or two of which might exist outside my imagination.

Warm, wet tears fell moistly down my cheek as I went to visit Boris.