Summary

  • 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

  1. Lib Dems: New time limits for doctors' appointmentspublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

  2. Third question: Health waiting listspublished at 09:44 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    The third question is about the health service and the amount of time people are having to wait for appointments.

  3. Local ethnic communities 'work well together'published at 09:38 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Marion Turner-Hawes (Independent) says Wellingborough's ethnic communities "work well together" and that politicians should continue to work closely with them.

  4. Greens say Britain should be proud of its immigration ratepublished at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Will Morris (Green) says: "When did we become such a horrible country? Britain should be proud of its high immigration rate."

    Will Morris
  5. Labour would employ more Home Office staffpublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

  6. Conservatives have been 'too slow' addressing immigrationpublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

  7. Lib Dems want to see a new visa agencypublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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".

    Ana Savage Gunn
  8. Reform UK would address immigrationpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

  9. The second questionpublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    The six candidates are asked for thoughts on immigration.

  10. Independent candidate: 'Catastrophic mismanagement'published at 09:21 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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".

    Marion Turner-Hawes
  11. Reform Party would increase tax thresholdpublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

    Ben Habib
  12. Cost of living: Labour has green prosperity planpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

    Gen Kitchen
  13. Helen Harrison: The government has provided a lot of helppublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Helen Harrison (Conservative) says the government has provided extra help for thousands of people in Wellingborough who are struggling with the cost of living.

    Helen Harrison
  14. The debate gets under waypublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    The first question for the six candidates at the debate is about the cost of living.

  15. Debate to get under way...published at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    Follow us for a summary of the key points raised in the debate by the candidates.

    Remember, you can listen live on BBC Sounds.

  16. Why is this by-election seen as so important?published at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

  17. Where does the Wellingborough constituency cover?published at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

    War memorial and gardens in RushdenImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    The Wellingborough constituency includes the town of Rushden

  18. What can we expect from the candidates?published at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

    Rooftop shot of Wellingborough
  19. How did we end up with a by-election in Wellingborough?published at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

    Man with short grey hair wearing a long black coat pictured in WestminsterImage source, PA Media/Stephan Rousseau
  20. When is the election taking place and how do I vote?published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February

    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.

    Black ballot box with hand posting a ballot paper into itImage source, PA Media/Rui Vieira
    Image caption,

    The polling stations will open at 07:00 GMT on 15 February