Senior Tories call for end to 'struggles' after Dorris exit

Nadine Dorris accused Rishi Sunak of leading a «zombie parliament» and betraying Tory principles. Photo: Stéphane Rousseau/PA

Senior Conservative MPs have reportedly called for an end to the «fight» after Nadine Dorris finally resigned.

They fear harsh criticism caused by the departure of the former culture minister , during which she launched a sharp attack. on Rishi Sunak could further undermine the party's prospects in a likely general election next year amid disastrous polling results.

Ms Dorris accused Mr Sunak of leading a «zombie parliament» and betraying Tory principles when she officially announced her resignation. 11 weeks after she vowed to leave.

Continuing her Sunday speech, a Boris Johnson ally said it was «very, very unlikely» that the Conservatives would win the next election, and did not say if the party would win get her vote.

Sir James Duddridge, a former Conservative minister, told the Daily Express: “None of us are perfect in all of this – Rishi, Boris, Nadine. We all got ourselves into this mess.

“The question is, how do we get out of it? Rishi's Five Promises are only the beginning, but we need to fulfill them — especially in the economic sphere — and quickly. We need to put an end to the infighting, otherwise Keir Starmer will win.»

Sir Bill Cash, a senior member of the Conservative Party, told the Express newspaper: «I think we should fight Labor.»

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Ms Dorries is expected to leave her Mid Bedfordshire seat on Tuesday after notifying the Chancellor of her intention to do so on Saturday.

She has come under increasing pressure, including from fellow Conservatives, to honor her June 9 pledge to resign with «immediate effect» in protest that Mr. Johnson did not receive a peerage in the list of honors at his retirement.< /p>

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to facilitate her exit from the House of Commons in the archaic process of appointing her steward and bailiff of three hundred Chilterns on the first business day after the bank holiday.

This will allow for a motion called a «writ» to be put forward when Parliament returns on 4 September, giving 21 to 27 working days for a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire.

The Electoral Process Test threatens more suffering for Mr Sunak as Labor and the Liberal Democrats vie for to overthrow Ms Dorris's 25,000 majority in the traditionally safe Tory constituency.

The Conservatives will fear a repeat of their big defeats in a two-term election before the summer break when Labor canceled its 20,000-strong majority in Selby and Ainsty, and the Liberal Democrats pushed back a majority of 19,000 Blues in Somerton and Frome.

The task of the Conservatives to defend Middle Bedfordshire may become more difficult. due to the divisive circumstances of Ms Dorris's departure, which she delayed, saying she was investigating why she was denied a seat in the House of Lords.