Victoria Derbyshire skewers Nadine Dorries in 'car crash' interview

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries faced a grilling from Victoria Derbyshire in a viral BBC Newsnight interview that led to viewers branding it a "car crash".

The interview, which took place last month, explored the Conservative Party’s handling of child sexual abuse inquiries.

This is a topic Dorries has publicly addressed as a survivor.

In the heated exchange, Dorries said she was unaware of the widespread nature of the problem during her time in government.

“The inquiry was more further reaching than the grooming gangs,” she admitted, before claiming the issue never came across her desk as culture secretary.

But Victoria’s incisive questioning dismantled Nadine’s defence.

When asked why the Conservatives failed to implement recommendations from the £200 million Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), Dorries struggled to respond.

“Frequently inquiries take place, and none of the recommendations are implemented,” she conceded.

Derbyshire countered sharply: “The same people who didn’t implement those recommendations calling for another inquiry – isn’t that the definition of political opportunism?”

Dorries attempted to deflect blame, pointing to civil servants and Westminster processes.

“Dealing with recommendations made from people outside of Westminster, the people who put them in place are civil servants,” she argued.

This prompted Derbyshire to fire back: “So it’s the civil servants’ fault?”

Dorries denied placing blame solely on civil servants but failed to clarify her stance, leaving viewers questioning whether members of the Conservative Party have truly taken accountability for mistakes made with the inquiry.

During the interview, Derbyshire highlighted the inconsistency of Conservative ministers now calling for a new inquiry despite failing to act on past recommendations.

“You had 14 years to do that,” Derbyshire reminded Dorries, cutting through attempts to shift responsibility.

The interview sparked a wave of reactions online, with one Twitter user sharing a clip, captioned:

“Wow! Must-watch car crash interview with Nadine Dorries. Narrator: Nadine Dorries blames the process for why the Conservatives didn’t deliver, while Labour use the process to start delivering. Make it make sense.”

Many viewers put Nadine on blast for her responses to Victoria’s questions, while praising the presenter for her interviewing skills.

One person congratulated Victoria, saying: “Yet another masterclass in interview technique from the greatest journalist in Britain by a country mile, the amazing Victoria Derbyshire. Where would we be without her?”

Another questioned: “What did they talk about in Cabinet meetings? Parties, cakes, posh wine & champers, holiday homes, 14 years of utter Tory drivel, which left our country to wreck & ruin. We shall never forget.”