Health Minister and novelist Nadine Dorries sparked panic in Government when she tested positive for coronavirus last week
Coronavirus-struck Health Minister Nadine Dorries lashed out at the opera singer wife of a Tory colleague today after being accused of endangering his young son.
Nevena Bridgen, whose husband Andrew is self-isolating after coming into contact with Ms Dorries in the Commons last week, blasted the Mid-Bedfordshire MP, 62, on Twitter, accusing her of not revealing her diagnosis soon enough.
The Serbia-born musician accused the minister of leaving the couples’ young son, Blake, and her aged mother ‘jeopardised’, even ‘liking’ a tweet calling for the politician to be arrested.
But this provoked a backlash from Ms Dorries, who is also a novelist, who questioned 55-year-old Mr Bridgen’s claim that he was self-isolating after they had lunch in Westminster.
Mrs Bridgen asked: ‘Why did you not tell them that you set (sic) next to my husband Andrew Bridgen on Thursday in a tea room and that he can’t get the test now!
‘I have the baby and a 75 years old mother jeopardised. You were treated but no one is coming to help us!’
This prompted Ms Dorries to hit back, replying: ‘Because, I did not sit next to your husband.
‘He was in tea room when I walked in, on another table not close to me.
Nevena Bridgen, whose husband Andrew is self-isolating after coming into contact with Ms Dorries in the Commons last week, launched at attack on her, saying she had left her baby and aged other ‘jeopardised’
But Ms Dorries hit back, saying that she had not been as close to the North West Leicestershire MP believed
Nevena, who wed Andrew in 2017 after they met through friends, is the daughter of a retired jazz musician father and a psychologist mother, and moved to London from Belgrade to study at the Guildhall School of Music
‘He text me and told me he had sat next to me, I was too ill to discuss but not sick enough not to know, that wasn’t true.
‘I told him if he was worried, to call 111.’
But this prompted Mrs Bridgen to hit back with: ‘I’m sorry that you’re sick, I wish you to get well but let me tell you. You absolutely did sit next to my husband in the tearoom. Did you tell Dominic Raab or Sec of State & ministers to call 111 too?
‘Or is this just a recommendation for backbenchers & ordinary people?’
And Mr Bridgen waded in, telling the Guardian his version of events was true and adding: ‘My wife is an opera singer; she really is a prima donna whereas Nadine only acts like a prima donna.’
Nevena, who wed Andrew in 2017 after they met through friends, is the daughter of a retired jazz musician father and a psychologist mother, and moved to London from Belgrade to study at the Guildhall School of Music.
As well as her singing career she runs the Wives of Westminster websitem, a glamorous lifestyle hub aimed at the spouses of elected officials – provided they’re ‘fashionable, sophisticated women with brains, hearts and style’.
It provides a mix of political musings, property porn and a luxurious ‘aspirational’ shopping column showcasing designer items worth thousands of pounds.
Mr Bridgen, a father of three, separated from his first wife, Jackie, in 2011 and they later divorced.
Nevena, pictured outside Chequers, claims her blog is for ‘fashionable, sophisticated women with brains, hearts and style’
The politician’s wife posed for a photograph on the lawn at Buckingham Palace during a garden party hosted by the Queen last year
Their row came as Cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan revealed she had tested negative for coronavirus.
The International Development Secretary said she was one of the increasing number of MPs self-isolating for seven days in a bid to stem the spread of the disease int he heart of politics.
She was tested after coming into contact with Ms Dorries, who tested positive for the coronavirus, at the International Women’s Day event hosted by Boris Johnson in Downing Street on March 5.
Two other Tory MPs announced they were in self-isolation, one after coming into contact with Ms Dorries and the other saying he had exhibited some symptoms.
Tory MPs William Wragg and Alex Chalk said they were now staying at home, joining a handful of other parliamentarians who have already taken themselves out of circulation in Westminster.
Labour’s Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake revealed she was self-isolating this morning after showing symptoms of coronavirus.