Nadine Dorries insists it is ‘nonetheless my intention to resign’ after being accused of ‘dragging out’ course of

Jun 14, 2023 at 9:27 PM
Nadine Dorries insists it is ‘nonetheless my intention to resign’ after being accused of ‘dragging out’ course of

Nadine Dorries has mentioned she is not going to formally resign till after she will get solutions from Downing Street about why she didn’t get her peerage.

In a Twitter thread, the previous tradition secretary responded to the “speculation” as to why she is but to formally stop the Commons, after saying her intention to take action on Friday.

She insisted it’s “absolutely my intention to resign” following recommendations she is dragging out the process to cause political pain for Rishi Sunak.

However she mentioned she is “awaiting responses” to data she has requested from the House of Lords Appointments Committee (HOLAC), the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and the Cabinet Office.

She mentioned: “I’ve requested copies of WhatsApp’s, textual content messages, all emails and minutes of conferences each formal and casual with names of senior figures unredacted.

“It is absolutely my intention to resign, but given what I know to be true and the number of varying and conflicting statements issued by No10 since the weekend, this process is now sadly necessary.”

Ms Dorries has suggested “sinister forces” have been behind the choice to not embrace her on Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours listing.

She had been chosen by the previous prime minister for a peerage, together with Tory MP Nigel Adams and former COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma.

But when the listing was lastly revealed, the three names were absent – prompting a bitter confrontation between Mr Johnson and his successor.

Downing Street has mentioned it’s “entirely untrue” to say that Mr Sunak or members of his Number 10 crew blocked the peerages from occurring – an accusation levied by the Johnson camp.

Ms Dorries has claimed Number 10 officers failed “to pass on vital information” from the Lords’ vetting physique that she wanted to agree to face down from the Commons and be part of the higher chamber inside six months, or face being left off.

In a combative column for the Daily Mail on Tuesday, she wrote: “I’m not going to lie. I believe sinister forces conspired against me and have left me heartbroken – but that emotion gives me all the strength I need to keep on fighting.”

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Nadine Dorries spoke to Sky News after her resignation.

Following the perceived snub, Ms Dorries announced she would stand down as an MP with “immediate effect”, triggering a by-election in her constituency of Mid Bedfordshire.

She was adopted out the door by Mr Johnson and Mr Adams, who each formally resigned on Monday.

This allowed Conservative Chief Whip Simon Hart to maneuver a movement referred to as a “writ” for by-elections in Mr Johnson’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency and Mr Adams’ Selby and Ainsty seat.

Under the method there are between 21 and 27 working days for the votes to be held, with doable dates being July 13 or 20 as they’re at all times held on Thursdays.

Read More:
Boris Johnson accused of using ‘distraction tactic’ on eve of report into partygate
With the implosion of Johnson and Sturgeon, is Starmer the luckiest general alive in politics right now?

While their by-elections are anticipated to be held on the identical date and earlier than the summer season recess, the competition in Ms Dorries’s seat of Mid Bedfordshire will probably occur later within the yr as a result of she has not formally resigned.

The transfer may lengthen the ache for Mr Sunak as he faces a battle to defend three Conservative seats at a time of dire polling as he publicly scraps with Mr Johnson.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tory MP Aaron Bell instructed Ms Dorries ought to get on with it, claiming she has been extra targeted on her work on GB News.

“I don’t know what Nadine’s doing, to be honest,” he informed BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme.

“I think it would be good for her constituency in Mid Bedfordshire… if they could have proper representation, because Nadine’s barely been seen in Parliament these last six months while she’s been earning money on telly.”

Asked if there’s frustration over the delay, Mr Sunak’s press secretary mentioned: “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 folks of Mid Bedfordshire deserve correct illustration on this home and he appears ahead to campaigning for the Conservative candidate within the by-election.”