Nadine Dorries: Rishi Sunak criticises former minister over resignation limbo – ‘folks aren’t being represented’

Aug 02, 2023 at 1:34 PM
Nadine Dorries: Rishi Sunak criticises former minister over resignation limbo – ‘folks aren’t being represented’

The prime minister has criticised Nadine Dorries for failing her constituents whereas they look ahead to the MP to formalise her resignation.

The former tradition secretary announced on 9 June that she could be standing down “with immediate effect”, simply forward of her shut ally Boris Johnson’s personal exit from parliament.

But virtually eight weeks later, she nonetheless has not formally stop, and stays the consultant for Mid Bedfordshire.

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Asked in regards to the state of affairs on LBC, Rishi Sunak mentioned: “I believe folks should have an MP that represents them wherever they’re.

“And it’s just making sure that 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 must be held to that normal.”

Asked if Ms Dorries was failing on those criteria, the prime minister replied: “At the second, folks aren’t being correctly represented.”

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The deputy chief of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, who’s hoping her social gathering will take the seat when a by-election is ultimately known as, mentioned voters felt “completely taken for granted”.

“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 Conservative’s MP is nowhere to be seen,” she added.

“When your own prime minister says you aren’t doing your job properly, it really is time to go.”

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Last week, a council inside Ms Dorries’s constituency wrote her a letter to demand her resignation, saying “residents desperately need effective representation now”.

Flitwick Town Council claimed the MP had not held a surgical procedure within the city since March 2020 and had not maintained a constituency workplace “for a considerable time”, in addition to not talking in parliament.

The city mayor, Councillor Andy Snape, mentioned her “absence and lack of interest/contribution” had held again native initiatives, as he hit out at her residing within the Cotswolds reasonably than in her constituency.

He additionally mentioned calls for had been rising for her to “do the right thing rather than continue to hold the people of Mid Bedfordshire to ransom while she plays political games for personal gain”.

Read extra:
Council demands Nadine Dorries resigns ‘immediately’
Dorries faces questions over claims she sent ‘forceful communications’ to civil servants after peerages snub

In a press release on social media, Councillor Snape added: “Her focus appears to be firmly on her TalkTV show, her new Daily Mail column, and, more recently, her upcoming tell-all book and exerting as much pressure as possible to embarrass the government into giving her a peerage.

“Regardless of your political viewpoint, Mid Bedfordshire residents desperately want illustration at Westminster. It’s time for Dorries to place Mid Bedfordshire first and let another person have a go.”

Sky News has approached Nadine Dorries for remark.