Peter Bone: How Wellingborough ended up with a by-election

Peter Bone was suspended from the House of Commons for six weeks for breaching the code of conduct for MPs

Following a recall petition triggered by MP Peter Bone's suspension from the House of Commons, a by-election will be held in Wellingborough. How did the Northamptonshire constituency end up without an MP and having to go to the polls?

Who is Peter Bone?

The 71-year-old has been active in Conservative politics since the 1970s, but did not make it to Parliament until 2005, when he won the Wellingborough seat.

In 2019 he had a majority of 18,540 in the constituency.

A prominent Brexit-supporter, he campaigned with Nigel Farage in the 2016 EU referendum.

Also a leading voice on the right of the Tory party, he briefly served as deputy leader of the House of Commons under Boris Johnson.

He was known for jokey references in Parliament to his wife Jenny ("Mrs Bone") - but the couple split in 2016 and he is reportedly in a new relationship.

Mr Bone made frequent media appearances and notable interjections in the Commons, such as raising the issue of flies in Rushden and breaking protocol by wearing a hat to promote a local charity.

Why was he suspended from the Commons?

Mr Bone was suspended for six weeks following an inquiry into his behaviour last year.

An investigation by Parliament's behaviour watchdog, the Independent Expert Panel, found Mr Bone broke sexual misconduct rules by indecently exposing himself to a staff member during an overseas trip.

It also upheld five allegations of bullying, including verbally belittling, physically striking and throwing things at the staff member.

The alleged victim told the BBC "physical, emotional and psychological abuse" by the MP left him a "broken shell of the young man I once was".

Mr Bone has denied the allegations and returned to the Commons - after his suspension - to vote on the Rwanda bill.

What is a recall petition?

Peter Bone served as deputy leader of the Commons and was in the Conservatives' 1922 Committee of backbench MPs

A recall petition lets voters remove an MP between general elections.

It is triggered if an MP is convicted of a crime or suspended from the Commons for more than 10 days.

If 10% of voters in the constituency sign the petition, the seat becomes vacant.

This petition was open for six weeks from 8 November to 19 December and was backed by 10,505 people - which equates to 13.2% of the electorate.

It means a by-election is due to be held this year.

Who will be standing?

Rushden is in the constituency, alongside places including Higham Ferrers, Irchester, Bozeat and Finedon

The Conservative Party has selected Helen Harrison as its candidate, Gen Kitchen will be standing for the Labour Party and Ana Savage Gunn will represent the Lib Democrats.

Will Morris is the Green Party candidate for Wellingborough and Reform UK has selected Ben Habib for the by-election.

Britain First and The Official Monster Raving Loony Party will contest the by-election, as will four independent candidates.

The by-election will be held on 15 February and North Northamptonshire Council said voters in the constituency should have started to receive their poll cards from 19 January.

The poll cards will include information on how to arrange a postal or proxy vote for those who cannot make it to their polling station on the day.

Following a law change last year, people who vote in person on 15 February will have to remember to bring a form of photo ID with them.

The BBC has a list of candidates who are standing for election.

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