Thatcher made you feel 'women could do anything'
Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch told ITV's This Morning that Margaret Thatcher "gave you this overwhelming sense that women could do anything".
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Former Corby MP: 'Very respectable result for Tories'
The former Conservative MP Louise Mensch, who quit her Corby seat to move to America, has commented on her party losing her seat in the by-election:
Very respectable result indeed for whole Tory team against local anger at my resignation for family. & 20 LibDem marginals on target list
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:Advertisement
Mensch: Labour will win Corby because of anger at me
The former Conservative MP Louise Mensch has effectively declared Labour winners of the by-election in her former constituency in a series of tweets posted just after the polls closed:
Election result will not be a verdict on either Christine, or the Conservatives, but only on the decision I took to step down mid-term.
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:Though I had to resign to unite our family, there was large & entirely understandable local anger. I wish I had been able to see out my term
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:Christine and her team did an incredible job in the most difficult possible circumstances. I know she will one day make a wonderful MP.
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:The result will not be known until tomorrow afternoon as counting will start in the morning.
Mensch: Dorries is 'demeaning the role of an MP'
Louise Mensch, who recently resigned as Conservative MP for Corby, says Nadine Dorries is "demeaning the role of an MP" by choosing to appear on the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity.
Writing in The Guardian, Ms Mensch highlights her decision to bow out of Parliament "because I could not make family life work with my husband on another continent".
She writes that Ms Dorries "made her choice, preferring the cameras to weeks of parliamentary votes, skipping out on the autumn statement - a crucial piece of government business - in the process".
"As a seasoned media performer, Dorries knows how to work a message. She must have had some idea how unpopular this move would be", Ms Mensch wrote.
She adds the Mid Bedfordshire MP's comments that she was appearing on the programme to highlight her views on abortion time limits was "a shabby excuse" and "the worst thing of all".
Louise Mensch: I had 'no fear' of election defeat
Louise Mensch said she had "no fear" of defeat at the next general election after her husband told The Sunday Times (£) that was the motivation for her resigning as a Tory MP.
However; nothing, repeat nothing, influenced decision to resign other than inability to hold family life together away from him.
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:Can honestly say I had no fear whatsoever of defeat at next election since had already decided not to stand again.
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:Lastly; @maindepowr apologetic but not a pol, doesn't do on message & I love him for it. Thinking of creative ways he can make it up to me
From @LouiseMensch on Twitter:Corby residents respond to MP's resignation
There was a mixed reaction on the streets of Corby to the news that Conservative MP Louise Mensch is stepping down.
While some residents said it was a "sad loss," others claimed Mensch was hardly seen in her Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency.
"We never see her basically," one said. "The only time we saw her was in the papers or on the news."
To watch how her constituents reacted to the news, visit ITV Anglia.
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Boris Johnson rules out standing as MP in byelection
After news that Louise Mensch is to resign as MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Boris Johnson is quizzed on whether he'd consider standing in the byelection.
Labour will focus on 'wasted years of Tory policies' in by election
Andy Sawford, Labour's Prospective ParliamentaryCandidate for Corby and East Northamptonshire has said that Louise Mensch was "obviously struggling to balance being MP with her family and business commitments."
– Andy Sawford, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East NorthamptonshireLabour is now looking forward to the campaign ahead, fighting for action on jobs and the economy, supporting our local services which are facing massive cuts and working with local community organisations.
During the by-election we will focus on the two wasted years of Tory policies that have taken the country back into recession and left Corby suffering job losses in both the public and private sector.
This will be a tough election for Labour but we are determined to hold this Tory-led Government to account by showing the disastrous impact of their polices on the people of Corby.
Boris Johnson rules out Corby bid
Political journalist has tweeted that the Mayor of London will not be aiming to become an MP after Louise Mensch's resignation:
BREAKING: Boris rules out Corby. "I'm sure Corby is a lovely town but I have a fantastic job running the best big city on the planet".
From @PippaCrerar on Twitter:Sally Bercow pays tribute to 'gutsy MP' Mensch
Sad & shocked by @louisemensch decision. Gutsy MP. All the best to her though. And (*whispers*) #LabourwininCorbynow :)
From @SallyBercow on Twitter:Today's top stories
