Wellingborough by-election: Parties begin work on wooing voters

Jonathan Ashworth visited Wellingborough to campaign for Labour

Political parties have begun trying to win over voters in Wellingborough ahead of a by-election next year.

Former Conservative Peter Bone lost his seat after being removed by constituents in a recall petition.

It followed his suspension as a MP over bullying and sexual misconduct claims, which he denied.

Mr Bone has not said whether he would stand as an independent, but Labour, the Lib Dems and Green Party have confirmed their candidates.

The Wellingborough Conservative Association said it would follow due process to select a candidate.

It is not yet known when the by-election in the Northamptonshire town will be, as Parliament has risen until January.

Labour began its campaigning within hours of the recall petition result, with shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth visiting the town on Wednesday.

He said despite previous by-election victories the party was not taking "anything for granted, and we're working very hard here in Wellingborough to win the trust of the people".

"I sense that after 13 going on 14 years of Conservative government that people feel it's time for a change," he said.

Conservative Mel Stride said the party would work to win in Wellingborough

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said the Conservatives had "a fair bit of ground to make up" against Labour.

But he told Times Radio: "There is a wide lead in the polls at the moment, but it's very thin. And we will be fighting for every single vote."

Ken Harrington, a Conservative councillor for a Wellingborough ward on North Northamptonshire Council, added that the party had to "move forward" following the recall petition.

He told BBC Radio Northampton the Tories had "candidates waiting in the wings".

"We need to get behind [the candidate]... I still think we can win Wellingborough," Mr Harrington said.

The by-election has come after a recall petition in the Wellingborough constituency

The Liberal Democrats in North Northamptonshire said the constituency had been "let down badly" by Mr Bone.

"Now there is a chance for people to vote for a new direction," the party said.

It has selected Ana Savage Gunn for the by-election, while Gen Kitchen will stand for Labour and the Green Party candidate is Will Morris.

Reform UK is also expected to put forward a candidate.

The BBC website will publish a full list of candidates during the election period.

Analysis, Andrew Sinclair, BBC East political correspondent

Peter Bone held the Wellingborough seat for the Conservatives since 2005

We will have to wait a few weeks before we know when this by-election will be called, but that will not stop the various parties from campaigning.

Because, with a general election possibly just months away, all the parties will want to show that they have momentum - and Wellingborough could not be a better place to do it.

To pollsters this area represents "aspirational Middle England" - people who work hard, have a decent standard of living and want to better themselves and their families. These are the people who could well decide the outcome of the next election.

Most of the seats in this corridor have been held by the Conservatives for the last 20 years. But Labour, fresh from its success in nearby Mid Bedfordshire, where the Tories had a larger majority, believes things are changing. Why else did Sir Keir Starmer go to Silverstone last week to deliver a major speech?

The Liberal Democrats came a poor third last time, but the party keeps talking about making holes in the "blue wall". This is another place to see if they can.

The Conservatives know if they can hold on here, it will show they have not lost this important group of voters and there is still everything to play for in the general election.

It means that Wellingborough is likely to set the political mood music for the rest of 2024.