11 August 2023 , 08:55
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Nadine Dorries has been told to “get on with it” as she still clings on as an MP nine weeks after she promised to quit.
The former Culture Secretary announced on June 9 she was quitting Parliament with “immediate effect” after she was snubbed for a peerage. But she still hasn’t formally resigned as an MP.
The Tories have criticised her dithering, but are refusing to actually take steps to force her out so there can be a by-election in her Mid Bedfordshire seat.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen told Times Radio: “People are bewildered. She made a decision, she said she was going to resign immediately and then she hasn't done. It's deeply frustrating. I think most people and most of my colleagues would expect her to get on with it now, make good on the pledge that she made in June and we can have a by-election and the people of Mid Bedfordshire can have a new Member of Parliament.”
Ms Dorries has not spoken in the Commons for longer than a year. Her last contribution was on July 7 last year, which was the day Boris Johnson announced he would resign as PM. Ms Dorries last voted in April this year.
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The Government is not supporting a proposal for MPs to try and force her out. Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant, who is chair of the standards committee, has suggested she could be sanctioned if she still has not voted by October 26, which will mark six months since she last did.
Under his proposals, a motion could be tabled requiring her to attend the Commons on a certain date. If she failed to do so this could be considered a "contempt of Parliament", which could be punished with a suspension. If MPs approved a suspension of 10 days or more this would give her constituents the opportunity to trigger a by-election.
Downing Street has rejected Sir Chris’s suggested plan. The Prime Minister’s spokesman earlier this week said: “It’s first and foremost for constituents to make that judgement about whether their respective MPs are serving their constituencies.” He added: “I’m not aware of any plans on the Government’s part to introduce that power. It is for the British people to make that decision about whether they are well served by their MPs.”
A poll last month found Labour is on course to overturn the 24,664 Conservative majority in Mid Bedfordshire if there is a by-election. It has been held by the Tories since 1931.
Away from Parliament, Mrs Dorries is hosting a weekly chat show on Talk TV and has written a book titled The Plot: The Political Assassination Of Boris Johnson, to be published in September, just days before the Conservative Party conference.
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