Former Conservative minister Nadine Dorries has officially announced her resignation amidst growing criticism over her prolonged absence from the House of Commons. In her resignation letter, she directly pointed fingers at Rishi Sunak, accusing him of undermining his position by inciting public outrage against her.
Published in The Mail on Sunday, Dorries’ letter addressed the Prime Minister, stating, “It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to serve the good people of Mid Bedfordshire as their MP for 18 years, and I consider myself fortunate to have worked in Westminster for nearly a quarter of a century.”
She refuted insinuations from both the media and the Prime Minister himself that she and her casework team had ceased to serve her constituents effectively. Dorries specifically criticized Sunak for deviating from the core principles of Conservatism, asserting that history would not judge him favorably.
Dorries, a prominent ally of Boris Johnson, declared her resignation as of June 9, following her unsuccessful attempt to secure a peerage in Johnson’s resignation honours list. However, her parliamentary seat remained unfilled, preventing a by-election from taking place.
Her departure was delayed due to her ongoing inquiry into the reasons behind her peerage denial. Dorries revealed that her investigation initially focused on Boris Johnson’s alleged political sabotage. As she delved deeper, she claimed to uncover a disconcerting narrative that compelled her to delay her resignation. She argued that her role as a backbencher became incompatible with publishing a book that exposes what she perceives as corruption in the democratic process within her party.
Dorries’ conflict with the Prime Minister lies at the heart of her decision to resign, as she stated in the letter. A key figure in Boris Johnson’s tenure, Dorries served in his cabinet and was perceived as a loyalist. After Johnson’s departure, her anticipated elevation to the House of Lords, a reward for her allegiance, was blocked. She publicly accused Rishi Sunak of obstructing her entry into the House of Lords. This accusation, coupled with her lingering presence as a Conservative MP without formally resigning, created challenges for the Prime Minister.
Dorries’ absence had been criticized, particularly by her constituents who hadn’t seen her for a considerable period. The Flitwick Town and Shefford Town Councils in her Bedfordshire constituency formally called for her resignation, asserting that her attention seemed primarily diverted toward her television show, forthcoming book, and political maneuvers rather than representing her constituents.
In her Mail on Sunday video, she dismissed allegations of abandoning her constituents as “nonsense.”
Following her resignation letter, the Conservative Party promptly indicated that they had selected a candidate and were ready for the ensuing by-election campaign.
