Nadine Dorries ‘completely given up’ on job as MP long before announcing exit

Labour and Lib Dems both say they can win Tory seat, where constituents angry at being left in limbo

Nadine Dorries' announcement that she would step down as an MP, before then delaying her exit, has brought a new focus on her Mid Bedfordshire constituency - and claims that the former culture secretary is barely visible in an area she has represented since 2005.

It's been quite surprising how many people say, We never see her here,' or She's never done anything for this area,'" one opposition campaigner said. We're also getting lots of people who are angry at being left in limbo by her failure to resign."