By-Elections Are Due In Wellingborough And Kingswood: Here's What You Need To Know

The Conservatives are once again being forced to defend seats in unexpected by-elections, with two due in February in Kingswood near Bristol, and Wellingborough in the East Midlands. Both present a headache for the Tories that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could do without.

Chief Whip Simon Hart has issued writs for the seats vacated by Peter Bone, who was recalled following a misconduct ruling, and Chris Skidmore who quit over the government’s energy policy.

The contests have to take place within 21-27 days of the writs being laid. North Northamptonsire Council have announced that the Wellingborough vote will take place on 15 February, and it is expected that the Kingswood contest will be held on the same day. 

Here is everything we know about the by-elections so far and who is standing in them:  

The by-election in Kingswood has been triggered following the resignation of Conservative MP Chris Skidmore over the government's plans to liberalise rules for new oil and gas licenses. 

The former energy minister announced on Friday evening that he would quit and would not vote for the government's plans to offer new permits for drilling in the North Sea. 

“At a time when we should be committing to more climate action, we simply do not have any more time to waste promoting the future production of fossil fuels,” he said in his resignation statement. 

The by-election was triggered after he officially resigned from the Commons on Monday, when the House had returned from Christmas break. Skidmore had already announced that he would stand down at the general election, but brought his departure forward with the announcement of his immediate resignation. 

The by-election in Welingborough was confirmed in December, when a recall petition was