Voters elect new deputies in three constituencies
The polls have been opened in three parliamentary seats where partial elections are held, with Rishi Sunak ready for an electoral test of his position as prime minister.
Conservative-held constituencies are being targeted by Labor and the Lib Dems, who hope to overturn large majorities and send Tory MPs into the summer break nervous about their own political futures in the general election.
Voters have been able to cast their ballots since 7am in the south-west Conservative stronghold of Somerton and Frome, Boris Johnsonthe former seat of the western suburbs of London Uxbridge and South Ruislipas well as Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire.
Sunak was privately incensed Wednesday afternoon about his party’s electoral prospects, in part given the nature of why the contests were sparked.
Johnson stood down to avoid being suspended from parliament over a report that found he misled MPs about Partygate. Nigel Adams abandon after being passed by a nobility. I David WarbuttonMP for Somerset since 2015, resigned after being investigated over allegations of harassment and drug use.
In addition to the circumstances of the by-elections that have been called, Sunak’s party is also polling poorly nationally. At a closed-door meeting of Tory MPs on the eve of the by-election, MPs said Sunak appeared to acknowledge the results would be “tough”.
If the Conservatives are defeated, Sunak could become the first prime minister since then Harold Wilson in 1968 to lose three by-elections in a single day.
A polling station staff member returns after putting up signs as the polls open in the Selby and Ainsty by-election. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
Today I will take care of the politics blog. If you have any advice or suggestions, please contact: nicola.slawson@theguardian.com.
Reminder: Please don’t tell us how you voted in the comments section – electoral law (specifically section 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983) makes it an offense to post before the polls close in 22:00 Thank you so much.
You can read more about my colleague Aubrey Allegretti here:
Updated at 04:38 EDT
Key events
Peter Walker
Staff working for MPs need better access to human resources and a more supportive culture in parliament, but the system by which they are employed directly by members must not change, a report by a committee of MPs has concluded.
Conference of the speaker on the working conditions of the collegiate staff, chaired by Lindsay Hoylethe Speaker of the Commons, was created last year after a wave of stories about sexual harassment and bullying in parliament.
There was particular concern that staff working directly for MPs, as opposed to those employed centrally by parliament, were vulnerable as HR practices and work culture were set directly by the MP, who was also their employer. .
Before the consultation, Hoyle called for a change to this system, suggesting the idea of an external employer, meaning staff would have independent input into their careers and concerns.
But the report, drawn up by a cross-party group of 16 MPs, led by Hoyle, said the problems faced by staff were “not intrinsically linked to employer identity”, and that changing the ’employer would be expensive and would require a lot of time. and “ultimately a forceful instrument”.
They said:
We conclude that the nature of an MP’s work, and the close working arrangements and personal loyalty between members and their staff mean that members remain the employers of their staff.
The report, which will be debated in the Commons before it is implemented, sets out other proposals, including universal access to professional human resources, and reforms to the independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which plays an important role in contracts and salaries of the members’ staff. .
More broadly, said the deputies, we needed “a culture that recognizes and values the work that [MPs’ staff] they do and make these staff feel part of the wider parliamentary community’.
Rishi Sunak prepared MPs at a meeting of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs on the eve of the polls on Wednesday night that they face a “tough battle” in what were seen as safe seats for his party.
The prime minister told them that ruling parties rarely win by-elections, but urged MPs to unite in the face of any defeat as he vowed to “throw everything away” to win the next general election, PA reports News.
The worker expects to snatch Uxbridge and South Ruislipwhat was Boris Johnsonthe seat until he resigned, i Selby and Ainsty – vacated by his ally Nigel Adams‘ resignation
The Liberal Democrats are looking to win the competition a Somerton and Frome which was triggered by David Warburton quit smoking after admitting to cocaine use amid allegations of sexual harassment.
Conservative losses in all of them would be the first time in 55 years that a government has been defeated in three by-elections on the same day.
On Wednesday evening, Sunak was understood to have told his MPs:
In the coming months, I will explain more about what I would do if I had a full mandate.
I was recently described as a full-spectrum modern conservative and you will see that in the show I hosted.
Sunak vowed to show the public “who’s really on their side,” adding, “And that’s what’s going to propel us to victory.”
He was aware of the battle he will face if voters roundly reject Tory candidates, but urged MPs to unite ahead of next year’s general election.
Sunak said at the meeting.
When we return in September we all have a choice to make. Do we get together and throw everything to win the next election or not? I have made my choice, I am all with you to win.
I promise we can do it, but we can only do it together as a team.
Tory backbencher Jonathan Gullis he told reporters outside the meeting that the problem is “apathetic Tory voters” rather than public support for the Labor leader. Sir Keir Starmer.
He said Sunak told them “what we already know, that it’s going to be a tough battle” in the by-election.
Tory MPs at the meeting said he did not address suggestions he could bring up a cabinet reshuffle on Friday to try to restore his premiership.
During a visit to WarwickshireSunak told reporters asked if he would shake up his best team that he “would never expect you to say things like that,” in what was clearly not a denial.
He celebrated the fall in the inflation rate as proof that his government’s plans were working.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary acknowledged that it would be difficult for the Conservatives to retain all three seats on Thursday.
She said:
By-elections, for incumbent governments, are very difficult, that is their nature.
The elections in which the Conservative Party focuses most are the general elections.
Voters elect new deputies in three constituencies
The polls have been opened in three parliamentary seats where partial elections are held, with Rishi Sunak ready for an electoral test of his position as prime minister.
Tory constituencies are being targeted by Labor and the Lib Dems, who hope to overturn large majorities and send Tory MPs into the summer break nervous about their own political futures in the general election.
Voters have been able to cast their ballots since 7am in the south-west Conservative stronghold of Somerton and Frome, Boris Johnsonthe former seat of the western suburbs of London Uxbridge and South Ruislipas well as Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire.
Sunak was privately incensed Wednesday afternoon about his party’s electoral prospects, in part given the nature of why the contests were sparked.
Johnson stood down to avoid being suspended from parliament over a report that found he misled MPs about Partygate. Nigel Adams abandon after being passed by a nobility. I David Warbuttonan MP in Somerset since 2015, resigned after being investigated over allegations of harassment and drug use.
In addition to the circumstances surrounding the calling of the by-election, Sunak’s party is also polling poorly nationally. At a closed-door meeting of Tory MPs on the eve of the by-election, MPs said Sunak appeared to acknowledge the results would be “tough”.
If the Conservatives are defeated, Sunak could become the first prime minister since then Harold Wilson in 1968 to lose three by-elections in a single day.
A polling station staff member returns after putting up signs as the polls open in the Selby and Ainsty by-election. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
Today I will take care of the politics blog. If you have any advice or suggestions, please contact: nicola.slawson@theguardian.com.
Reminder: Please don’t tell us how you voted in the comments section – electoral law (specifically section 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983) makes it an offense to post before the polls close in 22:00 Thank you so much.
You can read more about my colleague Aubrey Allegretti here:
Updated at 04:38 EDT
