James Bond characters could mask MPs in Nadine Dorries's tell-all Boris Johnson book

Conservative MPs could be given the names of James Bond characters to preserve their anonymity in a warts and all account of an alleged three-year Westminster plot to bring down Boris Johnson.

Novelist and former Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has started work on a book about Mr Johnson's removal from office by his own MPs with the official title of "The Plot".

People briefed about the contents of the book say that it goes back three years and tracks how Mr Johnson's enemies in the Conservative party sought to weaken him and eventually bring him down over a series of scandals.

Mr Johnson quit in the summer after losing the confidence of dozens of his own MPs following scandals about lockdown parties in Downing St, his treatment of sleaze scandals involving his own senior MPs.

Mr Johnson's supporters are hoping that the new book will set the record straight. The book could paint the former Prime Minister as a victim of power struggles with the likes of his former adviser Dominic Cummings and key Cabinet minister Michael Gove.

'Tell her everything', Johnson tells MP

Ms Dorries's book has been given the private blessing of Mr Johnson who was travelling in the Far East this week. He has told one MP involved in it: "Tell her everything."

Ms Dorries - a key ally and a cheerleader for Mr Johnson - is working through a list of up to 15 Conservative MPs and allies of Mr Johnson as part of her research for the work.

MPs told The Telegraph that Ms Dorries wants to keep their names secret by using references from Ian Fleming's book.

The MP said: "It is not going to be a work of fiction but the sources will be ascribed a Bond character to protect the innocent.

"One or two small things will be changed around, a few things might be attributed to someone else. Boris' narrative is going to run through the middle."

The book was initially reported to be called "The Political Assassination of Boris Johnson". However Ms Dorries has now chosen a more arresting and straightforward title: "The Plot".

Ms Dorries is still working through the list of friends, allies and enemies of Mr Johnson as she puts down in writing the plots to undermine Mr Johnson.

'Journalists will work out who is who'

The MP added: "It is a factual account with sources given Bond names. She is doing recorded interviews with people now.

"She is piecing together the timings. At some point she will lock herself in a dark room or go away and complete the book."

Some MPs are already discussing which Bond characters will be given to which MPs if Ms Dorries goes ahead with the plan. One said: "We are planning a sweepstake."

Not all Tory MPs are delighted about the plan and fear it could go wrong. One said: "That doesn't sound like it will unravel does it? It is going to take a journalist 30 seconds to work out who is who."

Ms Dorries - who was helping her constituents on Friday and declined requests to comment to The Telegraph - will have no problem writing the new book at the same time as managing her career as a MP for Mid-Bedfordshire.

A successful novelist, Ms Dorries agreed what was described as a "major" six figure deal with publishing company Head of Zeus for the world rights to three new novels in 2017. That came after an earlier deal for three books signed in 2013.

One book continued her Angels series which follows the lives of the nurses of Lovely Lane while two more were said to be "rags to riches" tales set in the Liverpool and Ireland of the 1950s.

The books may not have been to the liking of critics but the public lapped them up and royalties flooded in - she received £19,000 in royalties and £154,000 in book advances in the 11 months to October 2019.

Ms Dorries was so prolific that she submitted three written books in advance before joining Boris Johnson's government in July 2019.

Ms Dorries told The Telegraph in early 2020 her habit was to "write about 1,000 words each morning, usually between 6.30am and 7.30am.

"If I miss that, I tend to write for about 6 hours on a Sunday. I do about 300,000 words a year, which carves up into a couple of books.

"If I go more than a few days without writing I become very unsettled and realise that creativity, writing, is very good for my mental health. I’m a happier person on the days I write."