No. 10 criticizes Nadine Dorris, who is postponing her official resignation

Nadine Dorris announced on Friday that she is stepping down as MP, but has yet to formally resign in writing. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Nadine Dorries has been veiledly slapped by Downing Street for not formally leaving Parliament despite resigning «with immediate effect» last week.

On Friday, the former Culture Minister said she stood up from her seat after she was denied peerage on Boris Johnson's latest honors list.

Mr Johnson and Nigel Adams, who also resigned amid the scandal, have now formally resigned in writing, meaning a by-election for their places were initiated on Wednesday morning.

However, Ms Dorries has yet to do so amid speculation that she wants to prolong the potential pain for Rishi Sunak. take place later than the voting in Uxbridge, South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty.

It could mean the prospect of further humiliation for Mr. Sunak if the Tories lose seats in the by-election on two separate days.

Nadine Dorris was denied a peerage due to the resignation of Boris Johnson. Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

When asked if Number 10 was disappointed by the delay, Mr Sunak's spokesman said: to prevent this from happening.”

“The Prime Minister believes that the people of Mid Bedfordshire deserve proper representation in this House and he looks forward to campaigning for the Conservative candidate in a by-election. The Prime Minister says it's important that they have certainty.»

Ms Dorris is reportedly considering postponing her official resignation until the end of the summer, meaning a potentially dangerous by-election could coincide with Sunak's first Conservative Party conference as leader.

She has also faced criticism from her fellow Conservative MPs, along with Aaron Bell, who sits on the front bench as Parliament's private secretary, told BBC Radio 4 World At One: «Honestly, I don't know what Nadine is doing.»

“I think it would be good for her constituency in Mid Bedfordshire… if they could have proper representation because for the last six months Nadine has hardly appeared in Parliament while she was making money from television '.

Ms. Dorries is the host of Friday Night With Nadine Dorries, a weekly chat show broadcast on TalkTV. She has voted in the House of Commons less than a dozen times since Sunak became prime minister on October 25, and has been highly critical of many of his policies.

While the possibility remains that she could be stripped of her whip, it would be inflammatory a move by Mr. Sunak that is likely to further escalate his feud with Mr. Johnson. There is no indication that there is any current plan for Number 10 to do so.

Amid reports that the by-election may be delayed, the Liberal Democrat spokesman, who spoke about their odds for a seat, said: “As the Cheshams and Amershams showed, the long summer campaign at the Blue Wall only ends one way for the Conservatives. We're dusting off this play.

“Today the bookies have declared us the favorites to win, and now we can use the coming months to take on the conservatives in a spot they've taken for granted for years. .”