Liverpool native and former Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries is to star in her own chat show on TalkTV from this Friday, although she has broken the ministerial code of conduct to do so.
Dorries, who grew up in Anfield and trained as a nurse in Warrington before entering parliament, where she currently sits as the backbench Tory MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, will feature former PM and close ally Boris Johnson as her special guest on the first episode of Friday Night with Nadine, which will air on the news channel this Friday, February 3.
However, as a former minister Dorries should have sought the guidance of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) before taking on any new employment within two years of leaving office.
Lord Pickles, Acoba’s chair, has confirmed that failing to seek advice and permission was a breach of the code, however in a letter to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pickles added that “given the transparent nature” of the role, it would be “disproportionate to take any further action in this case.”
He added that the case was a “further illustration of how out of date the government’s rules are, telling Dorries that “the risks under the rules in these types of appointments are usually limited,” but noted that “had you approached Acoba in good time before agreeing to the 26-week contract… it would have allowed us to advise you appropriately in advance.”
Dorries said: “As someone who’s never been afraid to speak their mind, I’m delighted to be joining the team at TalkTV for Friday Night with Nadine, where I’ll be putting my 23-year political career and experiences at the despatch box to good use.”
The news of Dorries’ upcoming career as a TV host follows on from the announcement that fellow Johnson loyalist Jacob Rees-Mogg will be hosting his own show on rival channel GB News.
