The government has triggered two by-elections to replace former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his ally Nigel Adams, both of whom resigned as MPs last week.
On Wednesday, Conservative Chief Whip Simon Hart moved a motion known as a “writ” for by-elections in Johnson’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency and Adams’s Selby and Ainsty seat.
That means there are between 21 and 27 working days for the votes to be held, with possible dates being July 13 or 20, as they are always held on Thursdays.
Another Johnson ally, former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, also announced she was quitting “with immediate effect,” but has not formally resigned, which means the by-election to replace her in her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency remains on hold.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives evidence to the Privileges Committee at the House of Commons, London, on March 22, 2023. (House of Commons/UK Parliament via PA Media)Sunak will have to call a general election by January 2025 at the latest, but he has been forced to face the three by-elections at a time when the ruling Conservative Party is lagging in opinion polls far behind the main opposition Labour Party.
Johnson quit on Friday after receiving the Privileges Committee report into the Partygate scandal. He accused the committee of trying to drive him out of Parliament and called its investigation a “kangaroo court.”
Dorries and Adams also announced they were resigning as MPs with “immediate effect,” despite having said previously they would stand down at the next general election.
In addition to his opposition to the Parliamentary investigation, Johnson also launched into a public spat with Sunak over his resignation honours list.
The prime minister said on Monday that his former boss wanted him to ignore the recommendations of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac), which had vetoed eight names Johnson had put forward for peerages.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during the London Technology Week at the QEII Centre in central London, on June 12, 2023. (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror via PA Media)Johnson subsequently released a statement, accusing Sunak of “talking rubbish.”
Dorries, who expected to be on Johnson’s resignation honours list, accused Sunak of blocking her from receiving a seat in the House of Lords.
During an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Dorries called the prime minister and his aide James Forsyth “privileged posh boys” who “duplicitously and cruelly” took away her peerage.
But Dorries has so far failed to formally resign, five days after she announced her “immediate” resignation.
The delay may mean the three by-elections have to take place over two separate days, prolonging the pain for the prime minister as he faces a battle to defend three Conservative seats at a time of dire polling results.
Nadine Dorries gives a speech during the Conservative Democratic Organisation conference at Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England, on May 13, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/PA Media)Asked if there is frustration over the delay, Sunak’s press secretary said: “It’s obviously unusual to have an MP say they will resign with immediate effect and for that not to take place.
“The prime minister believes the people of Mid-Bedfordshire deserve proper representation in this house and he looks forward to campaigning for the Conservative candidate in the by-election.”
Labour is gunning for Johnson’s 7,000 majority in Uxbridge while the Liberal Democrats hope to pull off shock victories in the other two constituencies, both safe Tory seats.
Labour said it would be “campaigning to win” in all the by-elections, “however many we end up having and whenever we end up having them.”
A spokesman said the party was ruling out any sort of deal with the Liberal Democrats in the fight for the seats.
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Liberal Democrats will be fighting for every vote in these by-elections, giving people a chance to back our fair deal and elect a strong local champion who will stand up for them.”
PA Media contributed to this report.