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Government announces by-elections in two Tory-held constituencies

PA Media Peter BonePA Media
Peter Bone was suspended from the Commons for six weeks for breaching the code of conduct for MPs

By-elections will take place on the same day next month in two constituencies won by the Conservatives in the 2019 general election.

The government issued a writ for Wellingborough to replace Peter Bone, who lost the seat following a sexual misconduct scandal.

Chris Skidmore, who resigned over the government's plans to boost oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, will also be replaced as MP for Kingswood.

Both polls will be held on 15 February.

Mr Skidmore said he had "no regrets" about leaving Parliament.

The former MP for Kingswood, near Bristol, formally quit the Commons on Monday after announcing last week that he was resigning the Conservative whip over the government's plans to issue new oil and gas licences.

Mr Skidmore said he had found himself increasingly at odds with government policy on the environment over the past 18 months.

PA Media Chris SkidmorePA Media
Chris Skidmore is unhappy with the government's environment policies

Labour has already started campaigning in Mr Skidmore's seat. Damien Egan, Labour's candidate who resigned as mayor of Lewisham on Wednesday, grew up in the constituency.

Mr Skidmore took the seat from Labour in 2010 and secured an 11,220 vote majority in the 2019 general election.

Wellingborough election

Mr Bone lost his seat after being removed by constituents last month in a recall petition, signed by more than 10% of his constituents. He had previously been suspended from the Commons over bullying and sexual misconduct claims.

Parliament's behaviour watchdog found Mr Bone had exposed himself to an aide and physically struck him. Mr Bone denies the allegations.

The 71-year-old was first elected for Wellingborough in 2005, growing his party's share of the vote to an 18,540 majority in 2019.

But Prime Minister Rishis Sunak has admitted the by-election will be "difficult" for the Tories. The majority is smaller than those the Tories had in both Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, which were both lost to Labour in by-elections last October.

Mr Bone could stand as an independent candidate. But this is thought unlikely as the Conservative Party has selected Mr Bone's partner Helen Harrison as its candidate.

Gen Kitchen will be standing for the Labour Party and Ana Savage Gunn will represent the Liberal Democrats. The Green Party candidate is Will Morris.