Lib Dems: New time limits for doctors' appointmentspublished at 09:45 GMT 1 February 2024
Ana Savage Gunn (Lib Dem) says her party would introduce a time limit of 24 hours for providing an urgent GP appointment and seven days for non-urgent cases.
Live coverage as BBC Radio Northampton hosted a debate with Wellingborough's by-election candidates
The seat held by Conservative MP Peter Bone was vacated following a recall petition
Voters will go to the polls on 15 February
Six candidates took part in the debate
A full list of candidates can be found here - https://bbc.in/3UhGrGj
You can listen back in full here - https://bbc.in/3SGTcck
Martin Heath and Andy Trigg
Ana Savage Gunn (Lib Dem) says her party would introduce a time limit of 24 hours for providing an urgent GP appointment and seven days for non-urgent cases.
The third question is about the health service and the amount of time people are having to wait for appointments.
Marion Turner-Hawes (Independent) says Wellingborough's ethnic communities "work well together" and that politicians should continue to work closely with them.
Will Morris (Green) says: "When did we become such a horrible country? Britain should be proud of its high immigration rate."
Gen Kitchen (Labour) says the party would recruit 1,000 new Home Office workers to deal with a "backlog" of immigrants waiting to be processed.
Helen Harrison (Conservative) says the top issue for local voters is illegal boat crossings and high levels of legal migration.
She says the Conservatives have been "too slow" in addressing immigration.
Ana Savage Gunn (Liberal Democrats) says "there needs to be safe and legal routes that are monitored" for immigrants coming to the UK.
She wants to see a new visa agency set up, so migrants can be dealt with "swiftly".
Ben Habib (Reform UK) insists his party is not against immigration. He says the current growth in the UK population "can't be sustained at a social level" and needs addressing.
The six candidates are asked for thoughts on immigration.
Marion Turner-Hawes (Independent) believes there has been "catastrophic mismanagement of the economy" by the government.
She believes that voters are interested in getting a "fair deal".
Ben Habib (Reform Party) says inflation means people have been unable to use their savings for the purpose they intended.
He says his party would raise the income tax threshold so people on lower incomes would be able to keep more of the money they earn.
Gen Kitchen (Labour) says her party has a green prosperity plan which would improve the economy.
She also says the party would make sure low wages would increase.
Helen Harrison (Conservative) says the government has provided extra help for thousands of people in Wellingborough who are struggling with the cost of living.
The first question for the six candidates at the debate is about the cost of living.
Follow us for a summary of the key points raised in the debate by the candidates.
Remember, you can listen live on BBC Sounds.
All by-elections are important. However, this one takes place in a year when a general election will be held at some point.
Chris Mason, the BBC's political editor, says the UK's main political parties will use this by-election to see which way voters may go.
"My goodness, the results afterwards will be poured over to see what it means for the fates of Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and all the rest," he said.
The Wellingborough constituency covers the east Northamptonshire town which bears its name, and the surrounding villages.
It also takes in the towns of Rushden, Higham Ferrers and Finedon and will become known as "Wellingborough and Rushden" from the next general election onwards.
The Whitworths sugar company is one of the major employers, alongside firms involved in logistics, construction and advanced engineering.
The size of the electorate is about 78,313.
The Wellingborough constituency includes the town of Rushden
Laura Coffey
Political reporter, BBC Radio Northampton
Expect a lively debate - candidates are fighting hard in this constituency.
For Labour, it's a case of who from the Shadow Cabinet hasn't visited the constituency, and Reform UK has also had some big name supporters visit.
The issues we'll be covering in the debate include the economy, health and crime.
Speaking to voters, they want to know how the parties will tackle issues like knife crime, a lack of GP appointments and the cost of living.
The debate, with six of the candidates, gets under way on BBC Radio Northampton and BBC Sounds at 09:00 GMT.
Former Conservative Peter Bone, who had been the Wellingborough MP since 2005, was suspended from the House of Commons following an inquiry into his behaviour last year.
Parliament's behaviour watchdog upheld allegations – which Mr Bone denied - that he broke sexual misconduct rules and bullied a member of staff.
The suspension from Parliament triggered a recall petition, which allows constituents to vote on whether their MP should keep their seat.
More than 10% signed the petition, which meant the Wellingborough seat became vacant and a by-election was called.
His partner, Helen Harrison, is standing for the Conservatives in this by-election.
Martin Heath
BBC Radio Northampton
The Wellingborough parliamentary by-election, external will take place on Thursday, 15 February.
People who registered to vote by 30 January can cast their ballots.
There will be 59 polling stations, external across the constituency, which will be open from 07:00 GMT to 22:00 GMT.
Following a change in the law, voters will have to show an accepted form of photo ID, external at the polling station, such as a passport or driving licence.
The polling stations will open at 07:00 GMT on 15 February