Nadine Dorries and the constituents who ‘haven’t seen their MP in years’
In the constituency of Mid Bedfordshire, most people have an opinion about their apparently AWOL MP Nadine Dorries.
“She’s an acquired taste,” says a man with a grin and a snort as he trots off through Ampthill’s weekly market.
The former culture secretary announced she was resigning “with immediate effect” in June after missing out on a peerage in her ally Boris Johnson’s honours list.
But she still hasn’t formally quit – meaning a by-election can’t take place.
“I’ve not seen her for years, but I sell her novels,” said the owner of the Ampthill market bookstand – a nod to Ms Dorries’ parallel career as a writer.
Another man says the MP used to be more present and had met her on a couple of occasions “usually when she was standing outside Waitrose”.
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‘Time for Nadine Dorries to go’
This is not the first time Nadine Dorries has ruffled feathers in her patch.
Back in 2013, thousands of her constituents signed a petition calling for a by-election after she turned up in the Australian jungle as part of the TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
That still grates for some locals.
“She can stay in the jungle because that’s just how much good she is for us … to be honest I’ve never seen the woman,” says one lady back in Ampthill.
In nearby Flitwick, three homemade posters hung near the train station proclaim “dosser Dorries out” and “£86k a year, but she’s never here!” – a reference to the salary paid to MPs.
A sign calling for Nadine Dorries to quit hung outside a local train station station. Pic: Jez Darr
Sky News received no reply when we visited two addresses registered to Ms Dorries in Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.
Text messages have gone unanswered and a phone call rang out, with the dial tone suggesting the handset was abroad.
We were also unable to locate her listed constituency office in Shefford.
The mayor of Flitwick has suggested the MP hasn’t held a surgery in the area for more than three years and has called for her to stand down.
The independent council leader for Central Bedfordshire told Sky News her new TV show and upcoming book about Boris Johnson were relevant.
“I suspect people feel what she’s doing is trying to orientate her personal life towards when she finally resigns … that’s really frustrating for people because it should be about the residents,” said Cllr Adam Zerny.
Parliamentary records show Nadine Dorries hasn’t spoken in the Commons since last July and hasn’t voted since April.
She is also still listed as employing her daughter as a paid assistant.
But despite local anger, there’s little constituents can do to force a resignation.
A recall petition – which could trigger a by-election – can only happen in very specific circumstances, such as a criminal conviction or lengthy Commons suspension.
There has been some criticism from Downing Street though.
Rishi Sunak has said voters in Bedfordshire are “not being properly represented”.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk echoed that this week, saying: “Constituents will want to have that proper representation at the earliest opportunity.”
Senior Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant has suggested an obscure Commons rule from 1801 could be revived to try and force out the Bedfordshire MP.
“We should say, listen, if you’re drawing a salary as an MP and you’re claiming expenses to employ staff and run your office and all the rest of it, the least you can do is turn up to Parliament,” Sir Chris told Sky News.
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Nadine Dorries ‘may wait to formally resign’
Nadine Dorries has previously suggested she is waiting for more details around why she didn’t receive a peerage before she formally steps down.
Others speculate she is trying to inflict political damage on the prime minister by attempting to trigger a by-election during conference season.
Back in Ampthill, she does still have her supporters though.
One man said she had been “treated really badly” by Rishi Sunak and had been an “excellent MP”, before adding with a wry smile: “When she is in parliament.”
Metropolitan Police is to stop investigating “non-crime hate incidents” to “reduce ambiguity” after prosecutors dropped a case against Graham Linehan.
Linehan, 57, will face no further action after being arrested over his social media posts about transgender people.
The Father Ted and IT Crowd creator said his lawyers had been told the case wouldn’t proceed. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the move.
Linehan, 57, was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence when he landed at Heathrow from his home in the US on 1 September.
The incident drew criticism of the police and government from some politicians and free-speech campaigners.
Met Police said today it would stop investigating “non-crime hate incidents” to “reduce ambiguity” and “provide clearer direction for officers”.
Posting on X, Linehan announced : “After a successful hearing to get my bail conditions lifted (one which the police officer in charge of the case didn’t even bother to attend) the Crown Prosecution Service has dropped the case.
“With the aid of the Free Speech Union, I still aim to hold the police accountable for what is only the latest attempt to silence and suppress gender critical voices on behalf of dangerous and disturbed men.”
The union said it had hired a “top flight team of lawyers to sue the Met for wrongful arrest, among other things”.
“The police need to be taught a lesson that they cannot allow themselves to be continually manipulated by woke activists,” it added.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson confirmed it had reviewed the case file and decided “no further action” would be taken.
Linehan said he had to be taken to hospital on the day of his arrest. Pic: PA
In one of his posts, Linehan wrote: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
Another was a photo of a trans-rights protest, with the comment “a photo you can smell”, and a follow-up post saying: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em”.
A Met Police statement after the case was dropped acknowledged “concern” around Linehan’s arrest.
It added: “The commissioner has been clear he doesn’t believe officers should be policing toxic culture war debates, with current laws and rules on inciting violence online leaving them in an impossible position.
“As a result, the Met will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents.
“We believe this will provide clearer direction for officers, reduce ambiguity and enable them to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations.”
Linehan said on his blog that he was arrested by five armed officers and had to go to A&E after his blood pressure reached “stroke territory” during his interrogation.
Police said the officers’ guns were never drawn and were only present as Linehan was detained by the aviation unit, which routinely carries firearms.
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JK Rowling, who’s regularly shared her views on women’s rights in relation to transgender rights, was among those who had criticised the arrest, calling it “utterly deplorable”.
Reform’s Nigel Farage, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, and ex-foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly also hit out at the treatment of Linehan.
UK
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will not be able to buy tickets to Aston Villa match next month, Israeli club says
The son of former England footballer Stuart Pearce has died in a crash, his family has said.
Harley Pearce, from Marlborough in Wiltshire, was driving a tractor near Witcombe, Gloucestershire, on Thursday, when he was involved in a collision, police said.
The 21-year-old farming worker died at the scene, on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe, around five miles from Gloucester.
No other vehicles were involved, Gloucestershire Constabulary said. Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident at about 2.30pm on October 16.
Stuart Pearce at last year’s FA Cup Final at Wembley. Pic: PA
Harley Pearce was 21 and worked in farming, according to reports.
‘Our shining star’
In a tribute posted on Facebook, Harley sister, Chelsea Pearce, said the family was “truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley”.
He was, the family said, was a soul “who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him”.
“He was a golden boy with an infectious smile, and this shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.”
He had “a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness”.
The family said they were “so proud of the young man he had become, exhibiting a wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry.
“He will always be our shining star. Rest in Peace, our beautiful son and brother. You will never, ever be forgotten.”
What have police said?
Harley ran his own company, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, talkSPORT said.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said on Thursday: “The driver of the tractor, a man in his 20s and from Wiltshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“His next of kin are aware and being supported by specially trained officers.”
The force is appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them.
‘Tragic news’
Harley’s father, Stuart Pearce, played 78 times for England and was part of the Three Lions squads which reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96, the FA said on its website.
He was later the head coach of the England Under-21s.
During a long club career, he made more than 400 appearances for Nottingham Forest, many of them as captain, during a 12-year spell at the City Ground.
He later managed the club, as well as another former club, Manchester City.
Pearce currently works as a pundit on talkSPORT, which said on its website that Harley and Chelsea were the two children he had with his ex-wife Liz.
Presenter Jim White said during a broadcast on Monday that “everybody here on this show and at talkSPORT sends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Stuart Pearce after that tragic news we’ve just heard”.
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Several of the clubs he played for posted tributes on X, including Forest, who said they were “deeply saddened”.
The club said: “The thoughts of everyone connected with Nottingham Forest are with Stuart and his family at this truly difficult time.”
West Ham United said: “We are saddened to hear of Harley Pearce’s passing.
“Everyone at the Club sends their deepest condolences to Stuart and his family at this tragic time.”
Manchester City said: “Everyone at Manchester City sends their love and thoughts to Stuart and his family at this very difficult time.”
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