Counting is under way in the fiercely contested Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth by-elections which will challenge the Tories ahead of an expected election next year. 

The Tories are defending what should be safe seats, but allies of Rishi Sunak have admitted the party faces “difficult headwinds” and there are fears of possible a double defeat.

It comes as Nadine Dorries eventually quit as Mid Bedfordshire’s MP in anger at being denied a peerage in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.

In Tamworth, Chris Pincher quit after being found to have drunkenly groped two men in an “egregious case of sexual misconduct” at London’s exclusive Carlton Club last year, an incident which helped trigger Mr Johnson’s exit from No 10 because of his handling of the situation.

Losing the seats would be a huge blow to Rishi Sunak and his election hopes. 

Although riding high in the national opinion polls, Labour said it would be a “moon shot” to win either seat.

The Tories are defending a 19,600 majority in Tamworth and have held Mid Bedfordshire since 1931.

Polls closed at 10pm on Thursday and results are expected early on Friday morning.

Follow the latest developments below