Nadine's daughter: 'Mum WAS given permission'

Nadine's daughter: 'Mum WAS given permission'
Nadine's daughter: 'Mum WAS given permission'

The daughter of suspended MP Nadine Dorries has insisted her mother was given permission to have one month's leave from her parliamentary duties. Jennie Dorries told ITV's Daybreak that former chief whip Andrew Mitchell, who resigned last month, agreed that the Mid-Bedfordshire MP could take the time off. She did not say if the Tory office was aware that her 55-year-old mother would be flying off to the Australian jungle to take part in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. Jennie said: "She did ask for the month off. The chief whip gave her permission. "She did all she had to do before she left. "She made arrangements for someone to take her place on Remembrance Sunday." Her sister, Cassie, admitted she has repeatedly voted for her mother to take part in stomach-churning challenges in the jungle. Cassie told Daybreak that she could not help but laugh at her mother's efforts on the notorious bushtucker trials, revealing: "I have voted for my mum for both of the trials - it's much more interesting to see her do it." So far the MP, who was suspended after it emerged she was heading to the Australian jungle during parliamentary time, has had to cope with chomping on a camel's toe and an ostrich's anus. The sisters both said they had been hurt by negative press reports which they branded 'untrue'. Cassie said: "Mum's not like that. She's a religious, kind person and does everything with the best intentions."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.