Government announces by-elections in two Conservative-backed constituencies

By-elections will be held on the same day next month in two constituencies won by the Conservative Party in the 2019 general election.

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

Both votes will be held on February 15th.

Skidmore said he has “no regrets” about leaving Congress.

The former MP for Kingswood, near Bristol, formally resigned from the House of Commons on Monday after announcing last week that he was resigning as a member of the Conservative party over the government's plans to issue new oil and gas licenses.

Mr Skidmore said he had become increasingly uncomfortable with the government's environmental policies over the past 18 months.

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

Mr Skidmore won the seat from Labor in 2010 and secured a majority of 11,220 votes in the 2019 general election.

Vaughn lost his seat last month after being removed by voters in a recall petition signed by more than 10% of voters. He had previously been suspended by the House of Representatives over allegations of bullying and sexual misconduct.

Parliamentary conduct watchdogs found Mr Bourne exposed himself to aides and physically beat them. Mr Bourne denies the allegations.

The 71-year-old was first elected in Wellingborough in 2005 and led his party to a majority of 18,540 votes in 2019.

But Chancellor Rishi Sunak admitted a by-election would be “difficult” for the Conservatives. That majority is fewer than the seats the Conservatives won in Tamworth and Mid-Bedfordshire, which they lost to Labor in a by-election last October.

Mr Bourne may run as an independent candidate. However, this is thought to be unlikely as the Conservative Party has chosen Mr Bourne's partner Helen Harrison as its candidate.

Gen Kitchen will represent the Labor Party and Anna Savage Gunn will represent the Liberal Democrats. The Green Party candidate is Will Morris.