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The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

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Nadine Dorries "suspended from Tory Party" over I'm A Celebrity appearance

The Conservative MP is to have the whip withdrawn pending an urgent meeting with Chief Whip Sir George Young.

By Caroline Crampton Published 06 November 2012 18:43

Nadine Dorries is already in Queensland to appear on the ITV reality show.

Nadine Dorries is to be suspended from the Conservative Party over her decision to appear on the ITV reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

The Mail's political editor James Chapman tweets that the whip is to be withdrawn from Dorries pending an urgent meeting with Chief Whip Sir George Young.

Dorries has already come under fire for her decision to appear on the programme from Home Secretary Theresa May, who said earlier that "Frankly, I think an MP's job is in their constituency and in the House of Commons."

As The Staggers' editor George Eaton wrote earlier today, Dorries has chosen not to forfeit her MP salary while in Australia, meaning that she'll receive as much as £5,478 during her time on the programme from the taxpayer.

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More from Caroline Crampton

View the discussion thread.

12 comments

Fri, 2012-11-09 21:40 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

I have never seen an MP or a lord that does not have a free meal four times a day and then after accepting the freebies off creeps - goes and claims their meals on their allowance.

I remember 6x Waddies 35p a pint in the members Bar HOL, oh whilst there with my then wife, the available women dressed in the best fineries - my ex-snapped, as hey those were not old women, nor were the members of the House of Lords. I think it made me change the way I thought of myself and to dispose of the mobile whale from Wales.

35p a pint when outside it was £3.50 a pint.

Hey what if Nadine had been on that list of suspect Tories??? I bet he would have let her name slip!

Wed, 2012-11-07 14:35 — Eugene Greco (not verified)

Interesting that an MP finally concedes the point that they regard themselves as a celebrity rather than a serious, professional politician.
Wonder how many, and who, we'd be left with if the other MPs who think of themselves as celebrities rather than serious, professional politicians were honest enough to come out?

Wed, 2012-11-07 09:22 — Barrie J (not verified)

I' guessing if you looked at all the other M.P.s with second, third, fourth, fifth jobs etc., all those solicitors, Q.C.s, executive and non executive directors their 'part time' jobs take them away from the House of Commons for similar periods.
One only has to watch televised debates to wonder why there are only half a dozen or so participating.
In tearing the backside out of it Ms Dorries in not the exception she's the rule they all abide by.
Our tribal system of politics where each main Party seems to have its vocal supporters on the internet, TV and media conveniently hides the fact that the three main protagonists are all enemies of the people.
They all seek wealth through power and influence.
Is not the ex Home Secretary, etc., etc., and one time Leninist, Stalinist, Communist Party member John Reid now a Group Consultant to G4S?
They collectively live by the motto; 'Let them eat cake'.

Wed, 2012-11-07 02:50 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

It would be funny though if she had worked within her Constituency whilst David Cameron was bankrolling it on holiday, ( or within parliamentary recess spare three months time when all plans are passed by power to authorise. like Prescott did with the trams and traffic plan for MANCHESTER, after the contracts were signed in the summer recess he then asked in an expensive poll whether the people of Manchester wanted them, , Manchester rejected the plans outright, the people that never wanted the trams ansd traffic plans were then told sorry we have already signed the contracts and cannot stop them going through, local democract not allowed it was our third London runway no-one wants that Dave wants) He has agreed in principal in smoke filled rooms to his mates in big business, the same mates he agreed to snatch democracy from the voter and install himself and Clegg in a Mugabwe style democracy routine and the first thing make it five years before we can press their eject button. But if Nadine can prove she has done the work - then goodbye Cameron as you will have to eat dogsh1t after she takes you through Court.

Cameron weak on telling ministers (men) they are sacked, but easy enough to do it to women - whatever happened to the Welsh secretary (female) he sacked the same day when he could not sack a man. She outed him on the fact he was pished and had drank a bottle of (TAXPAYER FUNDED?) WINE WHILST SHE WAS THERE.
I feel either the male minister had something on him, like Webbeca or I will out you on that night you shared a room with another politician to keep expenses down.

Wed, 2012-11-07 01:10 — Agent (not verified)

One of the few Tories that is straightforward. Hope she has a nice time in the jungle.

YAWN

Tue, 2012-11-06 21:13 — Michael Dixon (not verified)

Good riddance. Christine Hamilton Mark 2.

She did not even tell her own local party. Pathetic.

Tue, 2012-11-06 20:14 — Des Demona (not verified)

Hang on. Before the big rush to judge. She was the first Tory to say what we were all thinking. A bunch of Eton boys with no clue (I paraphrase)

Tue, 2012-11-06 20:05 — Obi Wan Kenobi (not verified)

If she's already in Queensland Australia - Good - They can keep her.

Tue, 2012-11-06 19:57 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

Last time DC withdrew the whip it was in goldilocks bedroom when he rode her wooden horse.

Tue, 2012-11-06 19:24 — A. L. Shaw (not verified)

Surely there's an obvious upside to this? Universal discreditation, public humiliation and no more single-issue conservatism (ie abortion). Win win!

Tue, 2012-11-06 19:22 — Ryan Wilson (not verified)

This is the second time I've completely agreed with Theresa May in recent days, there must be something wrong in the universe...

I usually hate politicians on a policy basis, but the sheer gall displayed by this woman is astonishing. Waging war on the welfare state is one thing, but fleecing the taxpayer and your constituents at the same time as cutting their services is another.

It's such a shame because there are too few women in parliament, and especially the Tory party, and lots outside parliament would take a good honest crack at it. Yet this human dross has risen to the top. God save us all.