Wellingborough by-election: Lib Dem says she is standing for 'integrity'

The candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Wellingborough said she was standing "on a platform of integrity".

A by-election is taking place in the Northamptonshire constituency after the constituents removed Peter Bone as MP via a recall petition.

The Lib Dems have won four of the 19 by-elections held since 2019, all gains from the Tories.

Ana Savage Gunn said she was "not a politician" and would put the "community first".

The recall petition was prompted by Mr Bone's suspension from the House of Commons for six weeks for breaching the code of conduct for MPs.

Ana Savage Gunn told BBC Radio Northampton: "I've lived a life of service, from walking the beat in Wellingborough as a bobby [police officer], to working in care homes during Covid.

"I'm now working in Wellingborough for a charity where there are Northamptonshire carers who are doing some fabulous work so I am more of a woman of action."

The Liberal Democrats have scored victories over the Conservatives in by-elections in North Shropshire, Chesham and Amersham, Tiverton and Honiton, and Somerton in the last three years.

Ms Savage Gunn said the party was "about people, society [and] fairness and all of their polities just speak to me".

She said she felt compelled to stand in Wellingborough because she was "angry" about recent political stories in the county, including the suspension of Mr Bone.

"I'm absolutely embarrassed by Northamptonshire being dragged through sleaze, I had to do something, so I'm standing on a platform of integrity," she said.

The deadline for nominations of candidates is 16:00 GMT.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, 15 February 2024 and the BBC is aiming to speak to all the candidates before then.

A full list of candidates and other information are available here on the BBC website.

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