Nadine Dorries has ended her summer of silence to insist she is still “working daily” for her constituents, after a senior Tory colleague told Rishi Sunak she should be stripped of the party whip.
Caroline Nokes urged the PM to sack the ex-culture secretary as a Tory MP, as she was accused of “making a mockery” of her seat by refusing to resign as promised 10 weeks ago.
Shefford town council and Flitwick town council in her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency have said she is focused on “political manoeuvres to embarrass the government” and not representing her constituents.
But Ms Dorries, who has not spoken in parliament for more than a year, fired back at her critics on Wednesday – claiming that said she was “getting on” with her job.
She gave a short statement to News Agents podcast saying that “political opponents, such as Labour-run Flitwick town council are choosing the summer and news-hungry outlets in the summer recess to be noted”.
The Boris Johnson loyalist said “myself and my team of four caseworkers are working daily with constituents”, adding: “We are just getting on with the work.”
Ms Dorries was furious at failing to win a peerage in her former boss’ resignation honours – alleging that “posh boy” Mr Sunak had blocked it. She warned that she would not quit until the government releases documents surrounding the decision to deny her the honour.
Ms Nokes joined growing calls for the PM to withdraw the whip from Ms Dorries. “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,” she told Times Radio.
It came a day after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer challenged Mr Sunak to “force the issue” and push Ms Dorries to finally quit her seat. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said on Wednesday Mr Sunak should “have the guts” to sack Ms Dorries as a Tory MP.
Rishi Sunak under pressure to pull Tory whip from Nadine Dorries— (Getty)
Signs have popped up in Mid Bedfordshire branding Ms Dorries a “dosser” and calling for her to resign. Two councils in Ms Dorries’ Mid Bedfordshire constituency also calling for her to quit. Shefford Town Council wrote to the former culture secretary to criticise her “scant interest” in Mid Bedfordshire.
Mr Sunak himself has slammed Ms Dorries, claiming her constituents are not being “properly represented” and suggesting she should hurry up and quit. But he has so far refused to withdraw the whip, meaning she still sits as a Tory MP.
On 9 June, Ms Dorries pledged to stand down immediately over her failure to gain a peerage in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list – but 10 weeks on, she has yet to formally resign.
Ms Dorries last spoke in parliament more than a year ago. Her last written contribution was a ministerial statement almost a year ago, in early September 2022. And she last voted in the Commons in April.
Ms Nokes joined growing calls for the prime minister to withdraw the whip from Ms Dorries— (PA Archive)
Ms Nokes, chair of parilament’s women and equalities committee, said: “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.”
Also speaking to Times Radio, Tory MP Damian Green said Ms Dorries should go. “She said she’s going to resign immediately - then do it.”
“I just think she’s not just damaging [arliament, 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.”
On a visit to the constituency to campaign for the Liberal Democrat candidate to replace Ms Dorries, Sir Ed said people in Mid Bedfordshire are “fed up”. He added: “Rishi Sunak should have the guts to sack Nadine Dorries as a Conservative MP. His silence on this whole sorry saga has become deafening.”
