Rishi Sunak is “quick to anger” and a man whose smile is “not always genuine”, according to former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries.

Ms Dorries was a stalwart ally of Boris Johnson, and has continuously criticised Mr Sunak since he took over as leader of the party and government last year.

She claims he – among many things – blocked her ascension to the House of Lords. This has been denied by Downing Street.

Politics latest: David Cameron attending new-look cabinet

Sky News Monday to Thursday at 7pm. Watch live on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News website and app or YouTube.

Speaking to the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, Ms Dorries was asked why she had described Mr Sunak as “sickly nice” in her new book, The Plot.

Explaining what she meant, Ms Dorries said: “If you saw him in his interview with Elon Musk I think you know what I mean.

“There’s a smile [that] is not always genuine – and I’m sure you’ve read many times yourself and heard many times yourself – but he was, he’s quick to anger, and because that mask often slips.”

Rishi Sunak welcomes ‘strong and united’ cabinet after sacking Suella Braverman – as Cameron joins top team

From failed Remain campaign to pints with Chinese premier – what does David Cameron’s global track record look like?

Rishi Sunak and David Cameron: Inspiration or desperation?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ms Dorries said she had seen this happening.

Asked when this occurred, she said it was “just an irritability” – adding that it was “very hard to put on an image, isn’t it, all day”.

“It’s very hard to keep that fixed grin and that, you know, that cheerful chappy demeanour all day long when you’re prime minister,” she said.

“It’s like 24 hours a day, so I’m not surprised the mask slips because it’s quite hard to keep up that effort.

“I think that’s part of the problem.”

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Asked about the recent reshuffle, Ms Dorries said she did not think it was right to sack Suella Braverman.

She accused Downing Street of lying about not signing off a controversial article authored by the former home secretary in which she accused the police of “playing favourites” with pro-Palestine protesters.

When Ms Dorries was a minister and Mr Johnson was in power, Downing Street came under scrutiny for its statements on partygate and Chris Pincher – the latter event precipitating the collapse of the administration.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

On Lord David Cameron‘s appointment as foreign secretary, Ms Dorries claimed the job was “created” so Lord Cameron could be put in the House of Lords – something she thinks would not have happened otherwise due to the Greensill lobbying scandal.

Sky News has contacted Number 10 and Lord Cameron for comment on Ms Dorries’s claims.

Watch the interview tonight at 7pm on the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge

Related posts:

Tory MPs in the North call on Johnson and Sunak not to raise business taxes in Budget Boris Johnson entered politics because of the ‘beginnings of a midlife crisis’ School COVID catch-up tsar quits as £1.4bn recovery package ‘does not come close’ Tory co-chair refuses to say – 19 times – if Hancock is being investigated Labour is in a dreadful place – but is the Batley and Spen win a sign Starmer’s torrid time is settling? Labour to advance in key battlegrounds but struggle to win many councils outright, poll suggests Nicola Sturgeon says Liz Truss asked her how to get into Vogue magazine Rail strikes to resume next month as pay dispute continues Labour MP ‘bombarded with death and rape threats’ after condemning Andrew Tate Starmer risks making grisly accusations about his past fair game with attack ads defence Rishi Sunak to head to Washington for talks with Joe Biden Rishi Sunak says Letby inquiry should be judge-led to ‘get answers’