The Tory sleaze and by-election list

Just how many MPs have the Tories lost since the last election?

North Shropshire: Tory MP Owen Paterson resigned after the standards watchdog found he had broken lobbying rules. The by-election was held on 16 December 2021. Liberal Democrats gain.

Wakefield: In May of 2022, former Tory and sex offender, MP Imran Ahmad Khan, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after plying him with gin at a party in 2008. The by-election was held on 23 June 2022. Labour gain.

Tiverton and Honiton: Tory MP, Neil Parish, resigned after admitting to watching porn in the House of Commons. The by-election was on 23 June 2022. Liberal Democrats gain.

Uxbridge and South Ruislip: After the resignation of Boris Johnson on 12 June 2023, a by-election was held on 20 July 2023. The Tory party managed to get Steve Tuckwell elected. Tory hold.

Selby and Ainsty: The resignation of Nigel Adams on 12 June 2023 led to another 20 July 2023 by-election. Labour gain.

Somerton and Frome: David Warburton resigned following his suspension from the Tory party over harassment and drug abuse claims. The by-election was held on 20 July 2023. Liberal Democrats gain.

Mid Bedfordshire: After the resignation of Tory MP Nadine Dorries on 29 August 2023, there was a by-election on 19 October 2023. Labour gain.

Tamworth: After the resignation of Christopher Pincher following suspension from the Troy party on 7 September 2023, there was a by-election on 19 October 2023. Labour gain.

You may remember 19 October 2023 as the day of the worst losses in Tory safe seats in recent history.

For those of you keeping score, the Tories faced 8 by-elections and lost 7 of them. There will probably be another one soon.

Tory MP Peter Bone suspended from Commons for bullying

Well, there goes another one.

MPs have voted to suspend Peter Bone from the Commons for six weeks after an investigation found he had bullied and was sexually inappropriate around a former member of staff.

The move is likely to lead to a by-election in his Wellingborough constituency, a former Tory safe seat polling indicates could flip to Labour.

Parliament’s behaviour watchdog found Mr Bone had exposed himself to an aide and physically struck him.

Mr Bone denies the charges.

MP Peter Bone suspended from Commons for bullying, BBC News

Here’s some related coverage:

The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) has today published a report which finds that Mr Peter Bone MP “committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct” against a member of his staff in 2012 and 2013. It has recommended that he is suspended from the House for six weeks. A suspension of this length triggers the Recall of MPs Act 2015.

Independent Expert Panel recommends suspending Peter Bone MP for bullying and sexual misconduct, parliament.uk