Nadine Dorries: ‘It’s nice being an independent MP’

Published on 03/12/2012 00:00

Nadine Dorries has said she enjoyed being an independent politician after having the Conservative whip suspended.

Ms Dorries, who spent three weeks in Australia last month after leaving her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency to take part in ITV show I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, insisted she would be allowed back into the Conservative Party.

But the outspoken former nurse claimed she was revelling in her new-found freedom, saying: “It’s quite nice being independent at the moment.”

Ms Dorries, a fierce critic of Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne, had a Commons showdown with Conservative Chief Whip Sir George Young last week over her decision to leave her post to appear on the show.

Their talks were “adjourned” and a decision on her future is expected this month.

Westminster has been rife with speculation the maverick MP could quit the party and stand for UKIP at the next General Election.

But she said: “I am quite sure, confident, that I should get the whip back very shortly.”

Asked what would happen if Sir George refused to reinstate the whip, she added: “We will cross that bridge when come to it.”

Ms Dorries faced a barrage of criticism when she flew to Australia to join the ITV1 reality show. She was the first person to be voted off.