Nadine Dorries: Right-wing Tory MP appointed as junior health minister

Outspoken MP who led calls to cut time limit for abortions joins government

Nadine Dorries, a controversial Conservative MP who previously led calls to cut the time limit for abortions, has been made a junior minister in the Department of Health and Social Care.

The appointment is likely to bring attention to Ms Dorries’ views on women’s reproductive rights, as she has repeatedly called for the time limit for abortions to be cut from 24 weeks to 20 and attempted to amend the law in 2011 to strip abortion providers of their role in counselling women.

In 2006, MPs rejected a move by the then-backbencher to reduce the abortion time limit and introduce a 10-day “cooling-off” period before a termination.

Ms Dorries, who originally trained as a nurse and supports a no-deal Brexit, has been appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary of state, alongside a number of pro-Brexit MPs who have been given roles in Boris Johnson’s government.

Brexit supporters Zac Goldsmith, Simon Clarke and James Duddridge were all also made junior ministers on Saturday.

Luke Hall, who campaigned to remain in the EU but has since supported the Conservative Party’s pro-Brexit policy, has also become a parliamentary under-secretary of state for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Although parliamentary under-secretaries of state are the lowest ranked ministers in the government, the appointment of Ms Dorries is likely to cause controversy due to her past comments.

In addition to her views on abortion, she has previously proposed introducing compulsory sex education lessons that would have included advice on “the benefits of abstinence”.

Ms Dorries was also criticised for sharing a tweet by Tommy Robinson and sharing a post from a supporter of the far-right anti-Islam party For Britain.

Former Labour spokesperson Alastair Campbell described Ms Dorries as “ill-qualified” for the role and said her appointment showed “how right wing this government now is.”

In contrast, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, congratulated Ms Dorries and said he was “looking forward” to working with her.

Mr Hancock added that she would be serving as the minister for mental health.