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Nadine Dorries keeps party waiting on by-election Nadine Dorries keeps Conservative Party waiting on by-election
(about 5 hours later)
Last week Nadine Dorries said she would resign her Mid Bedfordshire seat with immediate effectLast 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, to the frustration of the Conservative Party.
The Conservatives have officially announced two by-elections in July. The close Boris Johnson ally announced last Friday she would be standing down as MP for Mid Bedfordshire "with immediate effect".
Boris Johnson and Nigel Adams quit last week, triggering votes to replace them. But she is yet to officially tender her resignation - putting a by-election to replace her on hold.
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. No 10 said it was important for her constituents to have "certainty".
The possible polling dates are 13 July or 20 July, with the latter more likely. "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's press secretary added.
Conservative chief whip Simon Hart moved the writs for the two vacant seats in the House of Commons earlier on Wednesday. Ms Dorries announced she would be standing down as an MP, shortly before it was confirmed she would not become a member of the House of Lords in Mr Johnson's resignation honours list.
Some Labour MPs in the chamber cheered when Mr Hart announced the by-election to replace Mr Johnson. She has since accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's political team of removing her name from the list - something No 10 denies.
But a third by-election in Ms Dorries's constituency is currently on hold. Nigel Adams, another MP close to Boris Johnson who was reported to be in the running for a peerage but whose name was not on the list either, has also announced he is quitting.
Last Friday, Ms Dorries - a close ally of Mr Johnson - said she would resign her Mid Bedfordshire seat, with immediate effect. As Ms Dorries remains a member of Parliament, she can turn up in the House of Commons chamber to make her views known.
But she is yet to tender her official resignation. This is done by writing to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Anything she says would be covered by parliamentary privilege, allowing her to be outspoken on any issue, without fear of legal consequences.
Conservative sources say Ms Dorries remains an MP.
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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. Mr Johnson also announced he was leaving Parliament on Friday, ahead of a Commons report expected to accuse him of misleading MPs over the Partygate scandal, which is due to be published on Thursday.
Anything she says would be covered by parliamentary privilege, allowing her to be outspoken on any issue, without fear of legal consequences. The former prime minister has denounced the committee writing the report as a "kangaroo court" determined to "drive me out of Parliament".
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. Unlike Ms Dorries, both Mr Johnson and Mr Adams have officially resigned their seats, in Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty respectively.
If she so chooses, Ms Dorries could take part in that debate. It is not clear what her intentions are, though. The by-elections to replace them were triggered on Wednesday, with 3 July or 20 July the possible polling dates.
If her formal resignation is tendered soon, it could still be possible for all three by-elections to be held on 20 July. If Ms Dorries's 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.
On Wednesday, the PM's press secretary said Rishi Sunak "believes the people of Mid Bedfordshire deserve proper representation in [the Commons], and he looks forward to campaigning for the Conservative candidate in the by-election".
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.
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Nadine DorriesNadine Dorries