Editorial: A supporter for Nadine Dorries in the jungle

It is easy to criticise Nadine Dorries for joining the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. The Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire is not only neglecting her parliamentary duties, she is unlikely to emerge from the Australian jungle with her credibility (or that of her profession) enhanced.

But even as her colleagues queued up to put the boot in, and her party formally suspended her, the Prime Minister could have been forgiven for cheering. In fact, David Cameron must be crossing his fingers that the vexatious Ms Dorries proves popular with the voting public for a second time, and stays away for the full four weeks.

Leaving aside the pleasure of watching his most trenchant backbench critic forced to eat bugs and worse, there is also the simple joy of her absence. And if her antics render her a laughing stock, so much the better.