Mid Bedfordshire’s former MP, Nadine Dorries has tweeted that she is now a Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern and can be ‘expelled from the house’.
This job title was given to Ms Dorries as MPs cannot directly resign their seat. The only means for an MP to leave during the lifetime of a parliament is by death, disqualification, or expulsion.
New job ⬇️
Dear Nadine
I am writing to confirm that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has this morning appointed you to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.
Your appointment continues until determined by a subsequent appointment to this Stewardship.
I…
— Rt Hon Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) August 29, 2023
There are two offices are used for disqualification; Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds and of the Manor of Northstead.
Read: Letters: What things lasted less long than Nadine Dorries’ definition of “immediately”?
Dorries’ appointment to the Three Hundreds of Chiltern follows her very public resignation letter sent to the prime minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday (August 26). The letter came more than two months after she pledged to resign “with immediate effect”.
On Saturday (27 August), through the Mail on Sunday, the former minister wrote an open letter of resignation accusing the prime minister of abandoning “the fundamental principles of Conservatism” and warning him that “history will not judge you kindly.”
Her announcement in June led to seven candidates starting their campaigns to replace her.
Conservative
Festus Akinbusoye, Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner. His current election focus is “saving” the Green Belt and an end to ‘top-down’ housing targets set by the government.
Labour
Alistair Strathern is currently a Waltham Forest councillor. If elected he said he’d be an “active MP” fighting for change for Mid Beds towns and villages.
Liberal Democrat
Emma Holland-Lindsay was elected as a Central Bedfordshire councillor in May. Her campaign has focussed on getting more GPs.
True and Fair Party
Alan Victor has said his party is passionate about cleaning up politics, “modernising” democracy and fighting corruption.
Reform UK
Dave Holland wants to send parliament that the opportunities of Brexit “haven’t been achieved”, that immigration is “out of control” and the cost of Net Zero is “unsustainable”.
Green Party
Cade Sibley has said he is standing as “it’s more important” to give people the option to vote for someone who will represent them and that he couldn’t just “stand aside”.
Independent
Gareth Mackey is an Independent Central Bedfordshire councillor. He has said he will be a “present MP who cares absolutely deeply about what people need him to do”.
The date for the by-election has yet to be announced.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
additional reporting by
Paul Hutchinson for the Bedford Independent
