Rishi Sunak is facing another by-election after MP Peter Bone lost his seat in a recall petition following his suspension over bullying and sexual misconduct allegations.
Bone has been the MP for Wellingborough in Northamptonshire since 2005.
The recall petition was called after the Tory MP was suspended from the Commons in October for six weeks.
The 71-year-old was stripped of the Tory whip after being accused of bullying his aide and exposing himself in a hotel room.
The latest by-election will be seen as a fresh nightmare for Sunak as the Tories trail behind Labour in the polls.
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Bone, a leading Eurosceptic who was a staunch supporter of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, rejected the findings from the Independent Expert Panel as “false”, “untrue” and “without foundation”.
The recall petition was signed by 13.2 per cent of eligible voters in the constituency – above the 10 per cent threshold required for Bone to lose his seat.
Following the result, in a statement posted social media, Bone said: “The recall petition came about as a result of an inquiry into alleged bullying and misconduct towards an ex-employee which was alleged to have occurred more than 10 years ago.
“These allegations are totally untrue and without foundation.
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“I will have more to say on these matters in the new year.
“May I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.”
The latest by-election will be seen as a fresh nightmare for Sunak as the Tories trail behind Labour in the polls.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recently celebrated victories at the expense of the Tories in Tamworth, Mid Bedfordshire, Selby & Ainsty and Wakefield.
The recall petition was signed by 13.2 per cent of eligible voters in the constituency – above the 10 per cent threshold required for Bone to lose his seat
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Anneliese Dodds, chair of the Labour Party, said the results suggest that “Wellingborough is ready for change.”
“The Conservative Party has presided over 13 years of failure, not least in the ‘professionalism, integrity and accountability at all levels’ that Rishi Sunak promised,” she told Sky News.
“Despite serious allegations made against him, Peter Bone has dragged his constituents through a lengthy recall petition rather than doing the right thing and offering his resignation.”
