Nadine Dorries: National radio station visiting Mid Bedfordshire to talk to constituents about absent MP

A national radio station is coming to Mid Bedfordshire this week– and wants to speak with the constituents of ‘absent’ MP Nadine Dorries.

LBC is set to visit Dorries’ constituency on Thursday ahead of a segment with presenter Nick Ferrari about the MP – who pledged to resign with “immediate effect” on June 9. The team will be in the centre of Flitwick tomorrow morning (August 17).

Since then, thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a change in the law that would force her out, while Flitwick Town Council and Ampthill Central Bedfordshire councillors have written to the MP calling on her to either quit or do her job.

She last spoke in Parliament on June 7, 2022.

LBC Political reporter Henry Riley said: “During her maiden speech in May 2005, Nadine Dorries told MPs “I will use the House to highlight the concerns of my constituents and what matters to them most”. She added “I promise to do my best and to base everything that I do on integrity… I will always do my best for the people of Mid-Bedfordshire”.

"What has also left some constituents seething, is that it has been over two months since Nadine Dorries pledged to resign with “immediate effect”. Whatever your definition of ‘immediate effect’, I’d suggest that her interpretation might be stretching it.

“It is also frustrating for many here that whilst this has been going on, she has been highly visible in the media, with a weekly column in a national newspaper in addition to a weekly TV programme.

"LBC analysis also shows that since she last uttered a word in Parliament, Nadine Dorries has likely earned more than £160,000 with her salary as an MP, as well as her Register of Members Interests (with this figure not including any income she has earned through her column or TV show).

“Just earlier this week the Party Chairman Greg Hands was here campaigning for their new “amazing Conservative candidate”, whilst their current Conservative MP is refusing to budge over a row regarding a peerage.”

He added: “The former Cabinet Minister has been chastised by many residents, opposition parties and even from those within her own party. Even the Prime Minister has come out against her, telling Nick Ferrari on LBC that “people deserve to have an MP who represents them”, with Rishi Sunak also adding that “at the moment people aren’t being properly represented”.

Constituents are asked to call Nick Ferrari on 0345 60 60 973 on Thursday.