Nadine Dorries has declined to reveal whether she will vote for the Conservative Party in the next general election following her resignation as an MP. Labour and the Liberal Democrats wasted no time in commencing their campaigns in Mid Bedfordshire immediately after the former Tory culture secretary stood down, causing a by-election headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In her fiery resignation letter, Ms Dorries accused the prime minister of “demeaning his office by opening the gates to whip up a public frenzy” against her. She now refuses to support the Conservatives under Mr Sunak’s leadership.
Ms Dorries described the Conservative Party as “a mess” and “broken.” The candidates to replace her are Festus Akinbusoye for the Conservatives, Alistair Strathern for Labour, Emma Holland-Lindsay for the Liberal Democrats, Gareth Mackey as an independent, Cade Sibley for the Green Party, Alan Victor for the True and Fair Party, Dave Holland for Reform UK. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have intensified their campaigns in Mid Bedfordshire soon after Ms Dorries resigned. Veterans minister Johnny Mercer welcomed the opportunity for a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire but rejected Ms Dorries’ claim that the country is governed by a “zombie parliament.”
Ms Dorries, a close ally of Prime Minister Johnson, announced her resignation with “immediate effect” on 9 June after failing to secure a peerage in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours list. However, as she has not formally relinquished her seat yet, a by-election has not been scheduled. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated that he is increasingly confident his party has a good chance of overturning Ms Dorries’ 25,000 majority in the constituency.
Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds described it as a “morning of relief” for people in Mid Bedfordshire following the former minister’s resignation, and she believes her party could be in the best position to win the seat. A by-election in Mid Bedfordshire is an unwelcome development for Rishi Sunak, but it offers the Conservatives hope that they could retain the seat should the opposition vote split.
Ms Dorries is expected to vacate her seat on Tuesday after notifying the chancellor of her intention to do so on Saturday. Jeremy Hunt is anticipated to facilitate her departure from the House of Commons by appointing her as Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern on the first working day after the bank holiday. This will enable a motion, called a “writ,” to be put forward when parliament resumes on 4 September.