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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Nadine Dorries keeps Conservative Party waiting on by-election | Nadine Dorries keeps Conservative Party waiting on by-election |
| (4 months 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, 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 close Boris Johnson ally announced last Friday she would be standing down as MP for Mid Bedfordshire "with immediate effect". | The close Boris Johnson ally announced last Friday she would be standing down as MP for Mid Bedfordshire "with immediate effect". |
| But she is yet to officially tender her resignation - putting a by-election to replace her on hold. | But she is yet to officially tender her resignation - putting a by-election to replace her on hold. |
| No 10 said it was important for her constituents to have "certainty". | No 10 said it was important for her constituents to have "certainty". |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| She has since accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's political team of removing her name from the list - something No 10 denies. | She has since accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's political team of removing her name from the list - something No 10 denies. |
| 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. | 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. |
| As Ms Dorries remains a member of Parliament, she can turn up in the House of Commons chamber to make her views known. | As Ms Dorries 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. |
| Dorries says sinister forces stopped her peerage | Dorries says sinister forces stopped her peerage |
| By-election confirmed for Boris Johnson's ex-seat | By-election confirmed for Boris Johnson's ex-seat |
| Why did Boris Johnson resign? | Why did Boris Johnson resign? |
| 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. | 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. |
| The former prime minister has denounced the committee writing the report as a "kangaroo court" determined to "drive me out of Parliament". | The former prime minister has denounced the committee writing the report as a "kangaroo court" determined to "drive me out of Parliament". |
| Unlike Ms Dorries, both Mr Johnson and Mr Adams have officially resigned their seats, in Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty respectively. | Unlike Ms Dorries, both Mr Johnson and Mr Adams have officially resigned their seats, in Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty respectively. |
| The by-elections to replace them were triggered on Wednesday, with 3 July or 20 July the possible polling dates. | The by-elections to replace them were triggered on Wednesday, with 3 July or 20 July the possible polling dates. |
| 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. | 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". | 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. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Mid Bedfordshire by-election 2023 | |
| Conservative Party | Conservative Party |
| Nadine Dorries | Nadine Dorries |