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Nadine Dorries ditches MP duties to take part in I'm a Celebrity … Nadine Dorries ditches MP duties to take part in I'm a Celebrity …
(about 3 hours later)
The Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has come under fire for ditching parliament and her constituents to spend nearly a month in Australia on the reality television show I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here. The Tory MP Nadine Dorries has come under fire over her decision to spend nearly a month in Australia to take part on the reality television show I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, with her local Conservative association reportedly organising an urgent meeting to discuss her future.
Dorries, who is paid £65,738 a year to serve as the MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, will be paid up to a maximum of £40,000 for taking part in the show. Dorries provoked a hail of criticism after flying out to Australia to take part in the gruelling jungle-based reality show. Her move took many of her colleagues by surprise and could keep her away from parliamentary and constituency business for up to a month.
It was reported that Dorries did not ask the Tory chief whip, Sir George Young, for permission to take part in the show, suggesting she faces a rough ride when she returns. The Conservative party refused to comment. It was reported that Dorries did not ask the Tory chief whip, Sir George Young, for permission to take part in the show. Nor was her local Mid Bedfordshire Conservative association informed about her plans, it has emerged, prompting an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss her future as an MP. The association could not be reached for comment but the meeting was believed to be taking place at lunchtime. The Conservative party refused to comment on Dorries' decision to travel to Queensland to appear on the programme, but the home secretary, Theresa May, delivered a rebuke to her Tory colleague, saying an MP's job "is in their constituency and in the House of Commons".
Dorries, 55, is the first serving MP to take part in a reality show in which viewers get a say on who gets evicted since the Respect MP George Galloway appeared on Celebrity Big Brother six years ago. While viewers vote for contenders on the show, which begins on Sunday, Dorries is set to be absent for votes in the Commons, as well as George Osborne's autumn statement on 5 December. Dorries, who is paid £65,738 a year to serve as the MP representing Mid Bedfordshire, will be paid up to a maximum of £40,000 for taking part in the show, which begins on Sunday and sees contestants face a series of endurance tests. Previous challenges have included eating unsavoury meals such as kangaroo testicles and crocodile penis.
Dorries was reportedly unrepentant about her decision, insisting on arrival at the camp in Queensland on Monday night that the programme would be a platform to reach the public and to raise awareness about issues such as reducing the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 20. The Conservative MP, who admitted in interviews that she had never seen the ITV show, appeared unrepentant. Arriving at the camp in Queensland on Monday night, she insisted that the programme would be a platform to reach the public and to raise awareness about issues such as reducing the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 20.
She told the Daily Mail: "I'm doing the show because 16 million people watch it. Rather than MPs talking to other MPs about issues in parliament, I think MPs should be going to where people go."She told the Daily Mail: "I'm doing the show because 16 million people watch it. Rather than MPs talking to other MPs about issues in parliament, I think MPs should be going to where people go."
The MP admitted in interviews that she had never seen the ITV show.
When asked about her phobias, Dorries, who has previously described David Cameron and Osborne as "arrogant posh boys", replied: "I'm frightened of rats, but then again I do work with them."When asked about her phobias, Dorries, who has previously described David Cameron and Osborne as "arrogant posh boys", replied: "I'm frightened of rats, but then again I do work with them."
Twitter users criticised the decision, with the former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who gave up her Corby seat in August to live with her husband in America, saying: "Nothing sadder than a politician, or ex-politician, on any of those shows." Labour seized on the revelation to accuse David Cameron of weak leadership.
Steve McCabe, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, said:
"It is shameless that a Conservative MP thinks it is right to spend time boosting her own profile on a reality TV show in Australia instead of fighting for jobs and growth in Britain. David Cameron is so weak he cannot even stop his backbenchers appearing on TV when they should be standing up for their constituents. He should get a grip."
Downing Street refused to comment. The prime minister is currently on an official visit to the Middle East.
May told ITV's This Morning programme: "Each individual member of parliament has to decide how they're going to do their job and it's up to Nadine to decide how she wants to do her job.
"Frankly, I think an MP's job is in their constituency and in the House of Commons."
Dorries, 55, is the first serving MP to take part in a reality show in which viewers get a say on who gets evicted since the Respect MP George Galloway appeared on Celebrity Big Brother six years ago. While viewers vote for contenders on the show, which begins on Sunday, Dorries is set to be absent for votes in the Commons, as well as George Osborne's autumn statement on 5 December – depending on how long she survives on the show.
The former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who gave up her Corby seat in August to live with her husband in America, was among those who took to Twitter to criticise Dorries' decision. "Nothing sadder than a politician, or ex-politician, on any of those shows," she said.
"Just imagining the scene in the whips' office if I said I wanted to skip parliament for weeks to go on a celebrity TV show."
She added: "Nadine pretending that a serious issue like abortion rights is why she did this is the lowest of the low. Indefensible stuff."She added: "Nadine pretending that a serious issue like abortion rights is why she did this is the lowest of the low. Indefensible stuff."
Tory councillor Nigel Fletcher tweeted: "You're not a 'Celebrity', Nadine, you're a member of parliament, and your constituents pay you to work for them, not ITV." Tory councillor Nigel Fletcher tweeted: "You're not a 'celebrity', Nadine, you're a member of parliament, and your constituents pay you to work for them, not ITV."
Lembit Opik, the former Liberal Democrat MP, took part in the show after losing his seat in the 2010 general election. Lembit Öpik, the former Liberal Democrat MP, took part in the show after losing his seat in the 2010 general election.
Dorries will take part in the show alongside contestants including former darts player Eric Bristow and Charlie Brooks, who played Janine Butcher in EastEnders.Dorries will take part in the show alongside contestants including former darts player Eric Bristow and Charlie Brooks, who played Janine Butcher in EastEnders.
Öpik tweeted his support for Dorries: "Good on Nadine Dorries for the jungle if she's really going in. Go gal!"