Downing Street has expressed bewilderment at Nadine Dorries’ delay in formally resigning as an MP in a move that could prolong the by-election struggle for Rishi Sunak. The former culture secretary announced she would quit her Mid Bedfordshire seat after being denied the peerage requested by Boris Johnson as Tory infighting raged in public.
On Wednesday the Conservatives triggered the by-elections in the former Prime Minister’s seat and in that of his ally Nigel Adams after they resigned in writing. But Ms Dorries is yet to do so and, with the countdown ticking for voters going to the polls, the delay may mean the three by-elections have to take place over two separate days. The move could prolong the pain for the Prime Minister as he faces a battle to defend three Conservative seats at a time of dire polling as he publicly scraps with Mr Johnson.
Asked if there is frustration over the delay, Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “It’s obviously unusual to have an MP say they will resign with immediate effect and for that not to take place. The Prime Minister believes the people of Mid Bedfordshire deserve proper representation in this house and he looks forward to campaigning for the Conservative candidate in the by-election.”
