Rishi Sunak finally blasts Nadine Dorries for failing to do her job as an MP

02 August 2023 , 09:13

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She has not spoken in the Commons for more than a year (Image: Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak lashed out at resignation refusenik Nadine Dorries today as she continued to delay her departure from MP.

The former I’m A Celeb MP vowed to quit Parliament after being turned down for a peerage in June. But she is yet to surrender her Mid Bedfordshire seat and trigger a by-election. She has not spoken in the Commons for more than a year.

Speaking on LBC Radio, the Prime Minister accused her of failing her constituents. He said: “I think people deserve to have an MP that represents them, wherever they are. It’s just making sure your MP is engaging with you, representing you, whether that’s speaking in Parliament or being present in their constituencies, doing surgeries, answering your letters - that’s the job of an MP and all MPs should be held to that standard. At the moment people aren’t being properly represented.”

He vowed the Tories would field a “strong candidate” in Festus Akinbusoye when she eventually stands down and a by-election is due. But he gaffed as to whether Mr Akinbusoye was still the local police watchdog - a role he still holds after being elected in May 2021.

The Prime Minister appeared on LBC Radio (@LBC/Twitter)

“We will have a strong Conservative candidate, Festus who is there, who’s doing a great job, he’s Police and Crime Commissioner previously - or currently,” he said. “I think people there will think we've got fantastic candidate for them to represent them going forward.”

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Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “When your own Prime Minister says you aren’t doing your job properly, it really is time to go. People in Mid Bedfordshire feel completely taken for granted by Nadine Dorries.

“There is real anger on the doorsteps in Mid Bedfordshire from former lifelong Conservative voters who are switching to the Liberal Democrats. Families are facing soaring bills and are finding it almost impossible to get a GP appointment, while this government is wrapped up in sleaze and the Conservatives’ MP is nowhere to be seen.”

The Mirror told last week how a council in Ms Dorries's constituency have urged her to finally resign as an MP as they blasted the "lack of representation" in Parliament for residents.

In a scathing letter to the ex-Culture Secretary, the clerk of Flitwick Town Council in Bedfordshire, wrote: "Our residents desperately need effective representation now. Flitwick Town Council calls on you to immediately vacate your seat to allow a by-election."

The correspondence also took a swipe at Ms Dorries's other work writing a book on Boris Johnson's downfall and her presenting a programme on TalkTV.

"Rather than representing constituents, the Council is concerned that your focus appears to have been firmly on your television show, upcoming book and political manoeuvres to embarrass the Government for not appointing you to the House of Lords," it said.

The letter concluded: "Our residents desperately need effective representation now, and Flitwick Town Council calls on you to immediately vacate your seat to allow a by-election."

Ms Dorries abandoned her constituents in 2012 to appear on I'm A Celebrity...! She was stripped of the Tory whip before it was reinstated.

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Ben Glaze