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| Nadine Dorries: local party official expresses concern over TV 'triviality' | Nadine Dorries: local party official expresses concern over TV 'triviality' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The deputy chair of Nadine Dorries's Conservative constituency association has aired concerns that the MP is engaged in "triviality" by putting her constituency and parliamentary duties on hold for a stint on the ITV show I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here. | |
| Budge Wells, a Conservative councillor, has called a meeting of the executive of the Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association to be held this week to discuss the implications of Dorries having the whip suspended. | Budge Wells, a Conservative councillor, has called a meeting of the executive of the Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association to be held this week to discuss the implications of Dorries having the whip suspended. |
| The Conservative party announced on Tuesday night that the chief whip, Sir George Young, had suspended the whip from Dorries after it emerged she had flown to Queensland, Australia, to be a contestant in ITV's jungle-based reality show, which begins on Sunday and could see the MP out of circulation for up to a month. | The Conservative party announced on Tuesday night that the chief whip, Sir George Young, had suspended the whip from Dorries after it emerged she had flown to Queensland, Australia, to be a contestant in ITV's jungle-based reality show, which begins on Sunday and could see the MP out of circulation for up to a month. |
| Wells said that although the meeting of the executive had been called before the Conservative party made the announcement, this had given the meeting a greater sense of urgency. | Wells said that although the meeting of the executive had been called before the Conservative party made the announcement, this had given the meeting a greater sense of urgency. |
| The MP faced a barrage of criticism after the news of her forthcoming media appearance, which took many colleagues by surprise, not least the local Conservative association who, along with others, had not been informed by Dorries. | The MP faced a barrage of criticism after the news of her forthcoming media appearance, which took many colleagues by surprise, not least the local Conservative association who, along with others, had not been informed by Dorries. |
| Wells said: "We will consider what not having a Conservative MP for the interim period means to us. I do not want to pre-empt what the executive will say, but currently we are very concerned indeed about the press reports highlighting the triviality of what the MP is doing." | Wells said: "We will consider what not having a Conservative MP for the interim period means to us. I do not want to pre-empt what the executive will say, but currently we are very concerned indeed about the press reports highlighting the triviality of what the MP is doing." |
| He added: "Not having an MP because the whip has been temporarily withdrawn means we will of course be looking for help from our fellow [Conservative] MPs in Bedfordshire." | He added: "Not having an MP because the whip has been temporarily withdrawn means we will of course be looking for help from our fellow [Conservative] MPs in Bedfordshire." |
| Dorries, who flew out to Brisbane earlier this week to prepare for the show, has remained silent since the furore over her decision unfolded on Tuesday, and her parliamentary office did not answer calls. | Dorries, who flew out to Brisbane earlier this week to prepare for the show, has remained silent since the furore over her decision unfolded on Tuesday, and her parliamentary office did not answer calls. |
| ITV has so far refused to confirm that the MP was taking part in the reality show. The broadcaster is expected to formally unveil the I'm a Celebrity lineup on Wednesday. | ITV has so far refused to confirm that the MP was taking part in the reality show. The broadcaster is expected to formally unveil the I'm a Celebrity lineup on Wednesday. |
| Dorries is the first serving MP to take part in the show, which features famous faces performing stunts that in the past have included being smothered in insects and eating a kangaroo's penis. | Dorries is the first serving MP to take part in the show, which features famous faces performing stunts that in the past have included being smothered in insects and eating a kangaroo's penis. |
| Ann Widdecombe, a former Tory minister, who took part in Celebrity Fit Club while a backbench MP and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing after retiring from politics in 2010, highlighted the possible pitfalls of Dorries's decision. This included time away from the constituency and the possibility that her dignity would not survive intact and she would be a figure of fun the next time she had to deal with chief constables, ministers and the media. | Ann Widdecombe, a former Tory minister, who took part in Celebrity Fit Club while a backbench MP and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing after retiring from politics in 2010, highlighted the possible pitfalls of Dorries's decision. This included time away from the constituency and the possibility that her dignity would not survive intact and she would be a figure of fun the next time she had to deal with chief constables, ministers and the media. |
| In an article for the Daily Express, Widdecombe said that while she was "hardly a shrinking violet" when it came to reality TV, MPs had to consider "time, dignity and control". | In an article for the Daily Express, Widdecombe said that while she was "hardly a shrinking violet" when it came to reality TV, MPs had to consider "time, dignity and control". |
| The author and former MP, who revealed she had turned down all requests to appear in I'm a Celebrity and Big Brother, wrote: "You will not know what is going on in your constituency, you will not be available for appointments, and you won't be voting." | The author and former MP, who revealed she had turned down all requests to appear in I'm a Celebrity and Big Brother, wrote: "You will not know what is going on in your constituency, you will not be available for appointments, and you won't be voting." |