Summary

  • A by-election is being held in the Mid Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency on Thursday, 19 October

  • The poll follows the resignation of the former MP and Conservative cabinet minister Nadine Dorries

  • Thirteen candidates are standing, representing major and minor parties, with two independents

  • BBC Three Counties Radio has hosted a live debate with seven candidates

  • The debate covered housing, how local do candidates need to be, and crime

  • The page also looks at the recent history of by-elections and analysis of the debate

Live Reporting

Edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. The candidates in full

    Thirteen people are standing in Mid Bedfordshire, representing the major and minor parties, as well as some standing as independents.

    In alphabetical order, they are:

    • Festus Akinbusoye - Conservative
    • Sid Cordle - Christian People's Alliance
    • Dave Holland - Reform UK
    • Emma Holland-Lindsay - Liberal Democrat
    • Ann Kelly - Monster Raving Loony Party
    • Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India - independent
    • Gareth Mackey - independent
    • Chris Rooney - Mainstream
    • Cade Sibley - Green Party
    • Alistair Strathern - Labour
    • Alberto Thomas - Heritage
    • Alan Victor - True and Fair
    • Antonio Vitiello - English Democrat

    More details can be found in the BBC's guide to the candidates.

  2. The resignation saga of Nadine Dorries

    Nadine Dorries and Boris Johnson sitting in a stadiumPA Media

    Nadine Dorries claimed "sinister forces" had denied her a seat in the House of Lords and a place on Boris Johnson's resignation honours list

    A pro-Brexit supporter of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Nadine Dorries was given the post of culture secretary in his cabinet in 2021.

    Outside her constituency and political circles, she was probably best known for appearing in ITV's bug-munching jungle show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here in 2012, amid much criticism.

    With Mr Johnson's resignation as PM in 2022, there was no place for her in Liz Truss's short-lived cabinet or in Rishi Sunak's first top team, and she signalled her intention to resign as an MP in June this year.

    With Parliament going into its summer recess, and Ms Dorries apparently waiting to find out why she had not been given a seat in the House of Lords, her formal resignation was delayed.

    In August, she finally confirmed she was going, and published a highly critical letter about Rishi Sunak and the current state of the Conservative Party, telling the PM that "history will not judge you kindly".

    Ms Dorries has written a book called The Plot: The Political Assassination of Boris John, but publication has been delayed due to what publishers Harper Collins called "the required legal process needed to share her story".

    So now we face a by-election next Thursday...

  3. Welcome to the Mid Bedfordshire By-election Debate

    The names of seven perspective MPs

    Following the resignation of Nadine Dorries as Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, a by-election takes place on Thursday, 19 October.

    BBC Three Counties Radio has invited seven of the candidates into the studio in Dunstable for a live debate hosted by presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith, and we will be previewing and following the discussion here.

    The live guests are:

    • Festus Akinbysoye (Conservative)
    • Dave Holland (Reform UK)
    • Emma Holland-Lindsay (Liberal Democrat)
    • Gareth Mackey (independent)
    • Cade Sibley (Green)
    • Alan Victor (True and Fair)
    • Alistair Strathern (Labour).

    The debate begins at 11:30 and you can listen live via BBC Sounds, as well as on your radio.