Rishi Sunak says Nadine Dorries is not doing her job as an MP
Nadine Dorries has hit back at the furore over her failure to resign as an MP.
The Tory MP announced in June she would quit her Mid Bedfordshire seat in protest at not getting a peerage in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list but is yet to formally do so.
The former culture secretary has faced mounting pressure over her delayed exit.
But Ms Dorries broke her silence today as she insisted she is “working daily with constituents”.
She told the News Agents podcast: “Myself and my team of four caseworkers are working daily with constituents. I understand that political opponents, such as Labour-run Flitwick Town Council, are choosing the summer and news hungry outlets in the summer recess to be noticed. However we are just getting on with the work.”
READ MORE: Nadine Dorries targeted by ‘publicity seeker’ Labour MP to force her out
Ms Dorries has angered voters, opposition MPs and some in her own party by remaining in post.
Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee, today said Ms Dorries should lose the Tory whip.
She told Times Radio: “Well, you know, she shouldn’t have the Tory whip if she’s made it plain that she no longer wishes to be a Conservative MP but can’t take that final step towards resignation. I think she needs to crack on and do that.”
“There is, of course, the situation that MPs cannot be sacked unless by a recall petition and certainly Nadine has not done anything to trigger that.
“But her heart’s not in it and if your heart’s not in it, then you shouldn’t be taking up a seat that somebody who wishes to represent the people of that [constituency] with heart and soul could be doing.”
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Damian Green accused Ms Dorries of “damaging Parliament”.
He said: “Nadine has said she’s going to resign immediately – then do it.
“I just think she’s not just damaging Parliament, she is damaging her own reputation as well, I think. Having said she’s going to go, it would be in everyone’s interest if she just went.”
The Prime Minister previously said the former culture secretary’s voters “aren’t being properly represented”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said Ms Dorries “should just go”, while the Lib Dems today called on Rishi Sunak to sack her.
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Flitwick Town Council last month urged the Conservative politician to immediately resign over what they described as her “continuing lack of representation” for constituents.
And on Monday, Shefford Town Council in Mid Bedfordshire also expressed frustration over what they see as a “continuing lack of representation” from their local MP.
Ms Dorries said in June she would leave her parliamentary seat with “immediate effect” in protest at not getting a peerage in close ally Mr Johnson’s resignation honours list.
The Conservative former minister – whose claim that Mr Sunak removed her peerage nomination has been denied by Downing Street – has said she is delaying her exit while she investigates why she was refused a seat in the Lords.
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