Nadine Dorries: I'm an MP, now get me into that jungle

The outspoken MP for Mid-Bedfordshire has raised eyebrows among her colleagues by agreeing to take part in reality TV show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

She has jetted off to Australia for a month and will miss George Osbone's mini-budget and a vote on the European Union budget.

It also means that she will not be available for her constituents.

Mrs Dorries is a high-profile backbencher who has controversial views on abortion time limits and has previously labelled Mr Osborne and Prime Minister David Cameron "arrogant posh boys" even though they are in the same party.

While the outspoken left-wing Respect MP George Galloway made history by going into the Big Brother house, Mrs Dorries will be the first serving MP on I'm a Celebrity.

Former TV presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk went into the jungle while serving as a member of the European Parliament in 2008 – and was the first to be voted out.

The former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik also went on the programme in 2010, after he had lost his Montgomeryshire seat.

Today, fellow Tories in the West Midlands were surprised that Mrs Dorries was jetting off to Australia and raised concerns that her constituents may not be happy.

Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, said: "I don't think it's the wisest decision. With Nadine Dorries being out of the UK I'm not sure how she will manage her constituency workload.

"I would feel very awkward about it myself."

Stafford Tory Jeremy Lefroy said: "MPs often work 14 hour days.

"I don't even have a TV at home. I've never had the time to watch it let alone appear on it

"It's surprising. But maybe Nadine is more efficient with her casework than I am."

Mrs Dorries' sojourn in the jungle has attracted criticism on Twitter.

Former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who gave up her Corby seat in August to live with her husband in America, wrote: "Nothing sadder than a politician, or ex-politician, on any of those shows.

"Just imagining the scene in the whips' office if I said I wanted to skip Parliament for weeks to go on a celebrity TV show."

Labour is seeking to win Mrs Mensch's seat in a by-election next week.

The party's deputy chairman and West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson said: "I don't think Nadine Dorries will be missed in Parliament. Some politicians manage to be forgiven for these comic acts.

"People like George Galloway seem to get away with that sort of thing because they are big characters.

"I'm not sure that Nadine Dorries' constituents will think that she is one of them."

But Mr Opik today supported Mrs Dorries' decision to take part in this year's series.

He said on Twitter: "Good on Nadine Dorries for the jungle if she's really going in. Go gal."

Mrs Dorries is no stranger to the media spotlight, having already appeared on programmes like Have I Got News For You.

But her tasks on I'm A Celebrity will see her forced to live on basic rations under canvas and share her living space with various creepy crawlies.

She will also be living with soap stars such as Helen Flanagan, aka Coronation Street's Rosie Webster, and Charlie Brooks, who plays Janine Butcher in Eastenders.

Professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock, and boxer David Haye, are also set to go into the jungle along with darts champion Eric Bristow and former Doctor Who actor Colin Baker