This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20217901

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Nadine Dorries suspended as Tory MP in I'm a Celebrity row Nadine Dorries suspended as Tory MP in I'm a Celebrity row
(35 minutes later)
  
Nadine Dorries has been suspended by the Conservative Party over her decision to appear on ITV1's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.Nadine Dorries has been suspended by the Conservative Party over her decision to appear on ITV1's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.
The Mid-Bedfordshire MP has had the whip withdrawn, a party source said.The Mid-Bedfordshire MP has had the whip withdrawn, a party source said.
Ms Dorries will be the first sitting MP to appear on the show, which could see her being away from her job in the Commons for up to a month.Ms Dorries will be the first sitting MP to appear on the show, which could see her being away from her job in the Commons for up to a month.
The chief whip will meet her when she returns from Australia, when she will be expected to explain herself.The chief whip will meet her when she returns from Australia, when she will be expected to explain herself.
The Conservative Party is concerned about Ms Dorries' inability to do parliamentary and constituency business while she is taking part in the programme.The Conservative Party is concerned about Ms Dorries' inability to do parliamentary and constituency business while she is taking part in the programme.
Ms Dorries has said she wants to use her appearance on the reality show to raise awareness of issues she is interested in, such as reducing the time limit on abortions from 24 weeks to 20 weeks. Ms Dorries said she wanted to use her appearance on the reality show to raise awareness of issues she is interested in, such as reducing the time limit on abortions from 24 weeks to 20 weeks.
'Heated debates'
"I'm doing the show because 16 million people watch it. Rather than MPs talking to other MPs about issues in Parliament, I think MPs should be going to where people go," she told the Daily Mail."I'm doing the show because 16 million people watch it. Rather than MPs talking to other MPs about issues in Parliament, I think MPs should be going to where people go," she told the Daily Mail.
"I'm not going in there to upset people, but I have opinions. There are certain causes that I'm interested in, one of which is '20 Weeks'."I'm not going in there to upset people, but I have opinions. There are certain causes that I'm interested in, one of which is '20 Weeks'.
"I will be talking about this issue around the campfire. I hope there will be some lively, heated debates.""I will be talking about this issue around the campfire. I hope there will be some lively, heated debates."
'Horrified'
But she has come in for criticism over her decision to enter the celebrity jungle, with Home Secretary Theresa May saying: "Frankly, I think an MP's job is in their constituency and in the House of Commons."But she has come in for criticism over her decision to enter the celebrity jungle, with Home Secretary Theresa May saying: "Frankly, I think an MP's job is in their constituency and in the House of Commons."
Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston said Ms Dorries should resign. Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston said Ms Dorries should resign, telling the BBC: "I was horrified, frankly. I think it just makes her look ridiculous and it brings politics into disrepute."
Speaking about her colleague's decision to take part in I'm a Celebrity, she told BBC Radio 4's PM: "I was horrified, frankly, I think it just makes her look ridiculous and it brings politics into disrepute. Paul Duckett, chairman of the Mid-Bedforshire Conservative association, said members may consider sacking Ms Dorries over her appearance on the show, adding that he had only learned about Ms Dorries appearance when media arrived in the constituency on Tuesday morning.
"I think politicians have to decides sometimes whether they want to be celebrities or whether they want to do a serious job, which is about representing their constituents in Parliament."
Paul Duckett, chairman of the Mid-Bedforshire Conservative association, said members may consider sacking Ms Dorries over her appearance on the show.
Mr Duckett told the PM programme he only learned about Ms Dorries appearance when media arrived in the constituency on Tuesday morning.
The association is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening.The association is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening.
Mr Duckett said Ms Dorries was a hard-working MP but the appearance might "detract from the gravitas" of MPs. Mr Duckett said Ms Dorries was a hard-working MP but the appearance might "detract from the gravitas" of her role.
"If she's doing something completely outrageous that does detract from the credibility of the parliamentary system then the membership of the association will be the ones to decide whether they wish her to remain," he said.
"If it does denigrate Parliament and her credibility and her status to be able to carry on doing the job then of course we'll have to take action."
Prime Minister David Cameron - who has publicly clashed with Ms Dorries in the past - earlier refused to be drawn into the row, saying: "Nadine Dorries can speak for herself on this issue."Prime Minister David Cameron - who has publicly clashed with Ms Dorries in the past - earlier refused to be drawn into the row, saying: "Nadine Dorries can speak for herself on this issue."
'Z-list celebrity'
Relations between No 10 and Ms Dorries, a former nurse, have been strained since the prime minister made a joke at her expense in the Commons, describing her as "frustrated". He subsequently apologised.Relations between No 10 and Ms Dorries, a former nurse, have been strained since the prime minister made a joke at her expense in the Commons, describing her as "frustrated". He subsequently apologised.
Ms Dorries grabbed headlines by describing Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne as "two arrogant posh boys" who were out of touch with the real world.Ms Dorries grabbed headlines by describing Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne as "two arrogant posh boys" who were out of touch with the real world.
Former Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik, who took part in I'm a Celebrity in 2010 after losing his seat, tweeted his support for Ms Dorries: "Good on Nadine Dorries for the jungle if she's really going in. Go gal!" Former Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik, who took part in I'm a Celebrity in 2010 after losing his seat, told the BBC the Conservative leadership was "out of touch with the zeitgeist of the nation".
'Z-list celebrity' He added: "I'm outraged by the fact that it thinks she's been wrong to do something that can put politics in touch with the public."
But former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who recently resigned from the Commons for family reasons and who has had a well-publicised spat with Ms Dorries over her decision, tweeted: "Nothing sadder than a politician, or ex-politician, on any of those shows. But former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who recently resigned from the Commons for family reasons and who has had a well-publicised spat with Ms Dorries over her decision, tweeted: "Nothing sadder than a politician, or ex-politician, on any of those shows."
"Just imagining the scene in the whips' office if I said I wanted to skip Parliament for weeks to go on a celebrity TV show."
In February 2010, Ms Dorries took part in the Channel 4 documentary series Tower Block of Commons, in which MPs moved in with benefit claimants on a deprived council estate.In February 2010, Ms Dorries took part in the Channel 4 documentary series Tower Block of Commons, in which MPs moved in with benefit claimants on a deprived council estate.
The Taxpayers' Alliance, which lobbies for lower taxes and greater government efficiency, said: "While she is being a Z-list celebrity, her constituents will be without an MP."The Taxpayers' Alliance, which lobbies for lower taxes and greater government efficiency, said: "While she is being a Z-list celebrity, her constituents will be without an MP."
Defending herself against a backlash, Ms Dorries told the Daily Mail: "I've worked seven years as an MP and I've never taken a day off work in Parliamentary time. I've worked all through recess and I only had four days off this summer.
"Parliament is in half-term while I'm there. I've not done anything to prepare for the jungle. I worked right up until I left the UK for Australia."
George Galloway, the only other sitting MP to have taken part in a reality game show that took him away from the Commons, when he spent three weeks on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, also faced criticism that he was neglecting his constituents.George Galloway, the only other sitting MP to have taken part in a reality game show that took him away from the Commons, when he spent three weeks on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, also faced criticism that he was neglecting his constituents.
He said he wanted to raise the profile of his fledgling Respect Party but later claimed many of his political statements had been edited out.