Serving MP criticised for joining 'I'm a Celebrity…'
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries could face the wrath of her constituents as she heads to Australia for up to a month to take part in reality TV show 'I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here'.
Ms Dorries, 55, who represents Mid Bedfordshire, will be the first serving MP to take part in the programme.
As well as risking the anger of those she represents for taking extended leave from her day job, she will also face questions from senior MPs, according to The Sun.
The newspaper said Ms Dorries’ appearance on the show, which begins on Sunday, will mean she misses an EU budget vote and Chancellor George Osborne’s UK mini-budget.
Ms Dorries has flown to Brisbane to prepare for the show.
She justified her decision to take part by telling The Sun: “I’m doing the show because 16 million people watch it. If people are watching I’m A Celebrity, that is where MPs should be going.
“I’m not going in there to upset people, but I have opinions.”
An ITV spokeswoman declined to comment on Ms Dorries’s inclusion in the show.
She said: “ITV have not announced the line-up for I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here.”
Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “There is serious work to do in Westminster which can make a real difference to the lives of her constituents. If she does not want that job, she should get out of the way for someone who does.”
Her sojourn in the jungle has also attracted criticism on Twitter.
Former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who gave up her Corby seat in August to live with her husband in America, wrote: “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.”
Nigel Fletcher tweeted: “You’re not a ”Celebrity“, Nadine, you’re a Member of Parliament, and your constituents pay you to work for them, not ITV.”
The TaxPayers’ Alliance told The Sun: “While she is being a Z-list celebrity, her constituents will be without an MP.”
Former Tory MP Harry Greenway, said: “This is outrageous. Her local constituency party should think very deeply as to whether she is putting them first or not.
“She is certainly making a very good case out for herself to be dumped as a candidate at the next election.
“Whatever fee she receives should go to charity, because her parliamentary pay won’t stop during her absence,” Mr Greenway added.
