Nadine Dorries Quits As MP With ‘Immediate Effect’

Nadine Dorries has announced she will stand down as an MP with “immediate effect”, triggering a by-election in her seat.

The former culture secretary is a close ally of Boris Johnson had reportedly is in line to be given a peerage by the ex-PM.

I have today informed the chief whip that I am standing down as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, with immediate effect.
It has been an honour to serve as the MP for such a wonderful constituency but it is now time for someone younger to take the reins.

— Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP (@NadineDorries) June 9, 2023

Dorries has been the MP for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005 and has a majority of 24,664.

But the Lib Dems will hope to snatch the seat off the Tories at the by-election, given the party’s recent record of overturning big Conservative majorities.

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “This is a rural seat in the heart of the blue wall, we are in it to win it.”

There has been months-long speculation that Dorries was to be handed a peerage in Johnson’s resignation honours list.

But recent reporting suggested she was cut from the list by Downing Street at the 11th hour to swerve an early election battle in her seat.

The former prime minister’s long-awaited list, which is said to include around 50 names, is expected to be released imminently.