MP says Cameron will be glad she’s in jungle

She flew without telling her colleagues she was to be on the ITV1 show for up to a month which returns on Sunday.

And Dorries has justified her absence by saying it will help voters see a new side to politicians – and unlike some colleagues, she has never previously taken time off.

Conservative chief whip Sir George Young took the decision yesterday to suspend the whip from Ms Dorries over concerns she is ignoring her political and constituency responsibilities.

As she prepared for the show alongside actress Linda Robson and darts player Eric Bristow she confessed she had not seen it.

“I haven’t even had time to watch the show. And so I definitely don’t have a game plan. I just want to be myself,” Dorries said.

The 55-year-old is unaware of the furore but had correctly predicted it would cause a stir.

“I know there will be a backlash that I am going on this show, but I would like to point out that I have never before taken a week away in Parliamentary time whereas a lot of other MPs have,” she said.

A special meeting of Conservative Association members in Mid-Bedfordshire is due to be called but her suspension was branded “loony” by former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, who said it made Tory whips look heavy-handed and could backfire if the MP proves popular on TV.