Nadine Dorries MP slams High Court case

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Nadine Dorries has slammed a High Court action that could have cost the Mid Bedfordshire MP her seat.

Today the Royal Courts of Justice threw out a case accusing the Conservative MP of an election smear campaign against rival candidate Tim Ireland.

The Independent is understood to have filed his legal papers late and could now be facing legal bills of up to £200,000, it has been claimed.

Speaking on behalf of Ms Dorries following the ruling, solicitors Clifford Chance said: “This petition was part of Mr Ireland’s continued campaign of harassment against our client.

“Our client believes that the petition was maliciously brought and had no merit.

“We are pleased that the right outcome, namely dismissal of the petition, was achieved.”

This afternoon Mr Ireland told the Citizen that the London court nullified the petition over a “technicality”.

The former candidate, who secured 384 votes at the polls on May 7, lodged an election petition against Ms Dorries in May.

He claimed Ms Dorries had made several attempts to smear his reputation in the run up to the election, and distributed printed election material which did not clearly include the name and address of the printer and publisher.

Ms Dorries’ solicitors added: “Our client was elected with a very clear majority and, with this petition now dismissed (and with the petitioner not having sought to appeal) she can continue with her job of representing the people of Mid-Bedfordshire‎.”