Mid Bedfordshire Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has stayed silent following Liz Truss’ election as the leader of the Conservative Party and the UK’s Prime Minister.
82% of eligible voters took part with Liz Truss securing 57.4% of the votes to Rishi Sunak’s 42.6%, that’s a lower margin than any previous Tory leader chosen by members
Boris Johnson loyalist, Nadine Dorries, had been critical of Truss and Sunak during their election campaigns.
Even up until a few days ago it was reported she had said the Tories had “suffered ‘collective insanity’ in getting rid of the PM.”
However, she had reportedly said that Truss was the only could unite the party and defeat Labour.
Yet, as other Conservatives rushed to congratulate Ms Truss, including Boris Johnson, Ms Dorries has not yet said anything in support of her new leader.
The only activity from the local MP about the election today, at the time of publication, appears to be on Twitter where she retweeted Liz Truss’ announcement of her win.
The future for Dorries
As the new PM draws up her internal and external battle plans to combat both a disenfranchised electorate and her own party colleagues, what does the future hold for Ms Dorries?
Broadcasters Magazine reported today that she is still tipped to remain the Culture Secretary with the DCMS but with such close ties to Mr Johnson, it’s anyone’s guess if she’ll stay in the role.
There have also been reports that Mr Johnson would elevate Ms Dorries to the House of Lords as part of his resignation honours.
If this happens then there would be a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire and the areas of any other MPs he also elevates, which could prove to be an early challenge for the new PM.
Fuller congratulates
By contrast, North Bedfordshire MP Richard Fuller has recorded a video congratulating the new PM on his Facebook page.
In a post issued this afternoon, he said: “After a summer of hustings, the Conservative leadership election is over and Liz Truss has emerged as a clear winner. Tomorrow she will visit Her Majesty the Queen and our country will have a new Prime Minister.
“I congratulate Liz on her victory, and urge colleagues and the country at large to rally behind her as she sets out to implement her bold and compelling vision to tackle the challenges facing the country.”
Meanwhile, Bedford and Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin (Labour), has said he believes the new PM will do little to ease the problems facing the UK.
In a statement on social media, Mr Yasin said: “In her victory speech to Tory members, Truss talked about delivering on promises.
“She’s the longest-serving cabinet member in the Government and has had 12 years to deliver. Far from being the person to resolve the increasing crisis in the country – she’s part of the problem…
“The PM must seek a proper mandate from the country instead of a mere 172,000 Tory members.
“Britain doesn’t just need a change at the top of the Tory party. It needs a fresh start and a Labour government.”
Speaking after her win, Ms Truss said: “I will deliver on the energy crisis, dealing with people’s energy bills but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply,” reported the BBC.
Ms Truss’s team is understood to have been working on a support package for energy bills “for weeks” and is expected to make an announcement this Thursday.
