Nadine Dorries and the constituents who ‘have not seen their MP in years’

In the constituency of Mid Bedfordshire, most individuals have an opinion about their apparently AWOL MP Nadine Dorries.

“She’s an acquired taste,” says a person with a smile and a snort as he trots off by means of Ampthill’s weekly market.

The former tradition secretary introduced she was resigning “with immediate effect” in June after lacking out on a peerage in her ally Boris Johnson’s honours record.

But she nonetheless hasn’t formally give up – that means a by-election cannot happen.

“I’ve not seen her for years, but I sell her novels,” mentioned the proprietor of the Ampthill market bookstand – a nod to Ms Dorries’ parallel profession as a author.

Another man says the MP was extra current and had met her on a few events “usually when she was standing outside Waitrose”.

This just isn’t the primary time Nadine Dorries has ruffled feathers in her patch.

Back in 2013, 1000’s of her constituents signed a petition calling for a by-election after she turned up within the Australian jungle as a part of the TV present I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

That nonetheless 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 girl again in Ampthill.

In close by Flitwick, three do-it-yourself posters hung close to the practice station proclaim “dosser Dorries out” and “£86k a year, but she’s never here!” – a reference to the wage paid to MPs.

Sky News acquired no reply after we visited two addresses registered to Ms Dorries in Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.

Text messages have gone unanswered and a telephone name rang out, with the dial tone suggesting the handset was overseas.

We have been additionally unable to find her listed constituency workplace in Shefford.

The mayor of Flitwick has instructed the MP hasn’t held a surgical procedure within the space for greater than three years and has referred to as for her to face down.

The unbiased council chief for Central Bedfordshire advised Sky News her new TV present and upcoming e-book about Boris Johnson have been related.

“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,” mentioned Cllr Adam Zerny.

Parliamentary information present Nadine Dorries hasn’t spoken within the Commons since final July and hasn’t voted since April.

She can be nonetheless listed as using her daughter as a paid assistant.

But regardless of native anger, there’s little constituents can do to drive a resignation.

A recall petition – which might set off a by-election – can solely occur in very particular circumstances, resembling a prison conviction or prolonged Commons suspension.

There has been some criticism from Downing Street although.

Rishi Sunak has mentioned 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 instructed an obscure Commons rule from 1801 may very well be revived to try to drive 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 advised Sky News.

Nadine Dorries has beforehand instructed she is ready for extra particulars round why she did not obtain a peerage earlier than she formally steps down.

Others speculate she is making an attempt to inflict political injury on the prime minister by trying to set off a by-election throughout convention season.

Back in Ampthill, she does nonetheless have her supporters although.

One man mentioned she had been “treated really badly” by Rishi Sunak and had been an “excellent MP”, earlier than including with a wry smile: “When she is in parliament.”