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.”
The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.
Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.
The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.
He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.
“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.
“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
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The previous comments Coote made about Liverpool
An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.
Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.
That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.
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After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.
“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.
“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”
It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.
In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.
Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.
Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.
“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.
Pic: Instagram/Davina McCall
“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.
“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”
The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.
‘Out of the woods’
Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.
McCall with her partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson. Pic: PA
“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.
He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.
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Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”
McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.
She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.
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