Sunak faces next major test as polls open in two crunch seats
Rishi Sunak rules out May election as he finally outlines his 'working assumption'
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Polls opened at 7am this morning in both Wellingborough and Kingswood, in what is the next major test for Rishi Sunak.
If the Conservative Party loses one or both of today's by-elections, it will mean the Government has taken more by-election defeats in a single parliament than any government since the 1960s.
Chris Skidmore's Kingswood seat had a Conservative majority of 11,220 in the 2019 general election but had previously been held by Labour from 1992 to 2010.
Peter Bone's majority in Wellingborough was 18,540 in 2019. He was forced to resign after he was found to have committed acts of bullying and sexual misconduct.
Polls opened at 7am this morning in both Wellingborough and Kingswood, in what is the next major test for Rishi Sunak
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MPs prompted a recall petition by voting to suspend Brexit-backing backbencher Peter Bone for six weeks.
His partner, Helen Harrison, is standing for the Conservative Party in his seat.
Chris Skidmore quit the House of Commons last month in protest at the Government's plans to issue new oil and gas licenses, saying he found himself increasingly at odds with government policy on the environment.
He said he had "no regrets" about leaving Parliament.
Peter Bone's majority in Wellingborough was 18,540 in 2019
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