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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Nadine Dorries keeps party waiting on by-election | Nadine Dorries keeps party waiting on by-election |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Last week Nadine Dorries said she would resign her Mid Bedfordshire seat with immediate effect | Last week Nadine Dorries said she would resign her Mid Bedfordshire seat with immediate effect |
| Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries has not yet officially resigned as an MP, putting a by-election to replace her on hold - to the frustration of the Conservative Party. | Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries has not yet officially resigned as an MP, putting a by-election to replace her on hold - to the frustration of the Conservative Party. |
| The Conservatives have officially announced two by-elections in July. | |
| Boris Johnson and Nigel Adams quit last week, triggering votes to replace them. | Boris Johnson and Nigel Adams quit last week, triggering votes to replace them. |
| Voters will go to the polls next month in Mr Johnson's Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, and in Mr Adams's Selby and Ainsty seat. | Voters will go to the polls next month in Mr Johnson's Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, and in Mr Adams's Selby and Ainsty seat. |
| The possible polling dates are 13 July or 20 July, with the latter more likely. | The possible polling dates are 13 July or 20 July, with the latter more likely. |
| Conservative chief whip Simon Hart moved the writs for the two vacant seats in the House of Commons earlier on Wednesday. | |
| Some Labour MPs in the chamber cheered when Mr Hart announced the by-election to replace Mr Johnson. | |
| But a third by-election in Ms Dorries's constituency is currently on hold. | But a third by-election in Ms Dorries's constituency is currently on hold. |
| Last Friday, Ms Dorries - a close ally of Mr Johnson - said she would resign her Mid Bedfordshire seat, with immediate effect. | Last Friday, Ms Dorries - a close ally of Mr Johnson - said she would resign her Mid Bedfordshire seat, with immediate effect. |
| But she is yet to tender her official resignation. This is done by writing to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. | But she is yet to tender her official resignation. This is done by writing to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. |
| Conservative sources say Ms Dorries remains an MP. | Conservative sources say Ms Dorries remains an MP. |
| Dorries says sinister forces stopped her peerage | Dorries says sinister forces stopped her peerage |
| MP says attacks on Partygate inquiry out of order | MP says attacks on Partygate inquiry out of order |
| Why did Boris Johnson resign? | Why did Boris Johnson resign? |
| And in the meantime, as she remains a member of Parliament, she can turn up in the House of Commons chamber to make her views known. | And in the meantime, as she remains a member of Parliament, she can turn up in the House of Commons chamber to make her views known. |
| Anything she says would be covered by parliamentary privilege, allowing her to be outspoken on any issue, without fear of legal consequences. | Anything she says would be covered by parliamentary privilege, allowing her to be outspoken on any issue, without fear of legal consequences. |
| The report on whether Mr Johnson misled MPs over lockdown parties is expected to be published later this week and debated by MPs soon after. | The report on whether Mr Johnson misled MPs over lockdown parties is expected to be published later this week and debated by MPs soon after. |
| If she so chooses, Ms Dorries could take part in that debate. It is not clear what her intentions are, though. | If she so chooses, Ms Dorries could take part in that debate. It is not clear what her intentions are, though. |
| If her formal resignation is tendered soon, it could still be possible for all three by-elections to be held on 20 July. | If her formal resignation is tendered soon, it could still be possible for all three by-elections to be held on 20 July. |
| But while she keeps her party waiting, the capacity for mischief exists. | But while she keeps her party waiting, the capacity for mischief exists. |
| A Conservative Party source said: "We don't know why Nadine hasn't resigned. | A Conservative Party source said: "We don't know why Nadine hasn't resigned. |
| "But we don't want to hang around, we want to get on with those things." | "But we don't want to hang around, we want to get on with those things." |
| The Conservatives - who are trailing Labour in national polls - wanted to conclude swift campaigns before Parliament's summer recess and for any political pain from the by-elections to be short and sharp. | The Conservatives - who are trailing Labour in national polls - wanted to conclude swift campaigns before Parliament's summer recess and for any political pain from the by-elections to be short and sharp. |
| But if Ms Dorries keeps her party waiting, she could force them into a potentially divisive by-election later on - for example, ahead of the autumn party conference season. | But if Ms Dorries keeps her party waiting, she could force them into a potentially divisive by-election later on - for example, ahead of the autumn party conference season. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Conservative Party | Conservative Party |
| Nadine Dorries | Nadine Dorries |