Labour aims to deal crucial first blow to Rishi Sunak in general election year
Labour has urged voters to opt for a “fresh start” as the party bids to deliver a crucial early blow to Rishi Sunak in the year of a general election.
The PM is on course for a fierce battle with Keir Starmer’s party in a by-election ballot after MP Peter Bone's voters backed a recall petition to force him out of the Commons. North Northamptonshire Council confirmed 13.2% of the electorate in Wellingborough backed a petition to recall their MP - passing the 10% threshold required for a by-election contest.
Backing Labour candidate Genevieve Kitchen, frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth said his party was 'taking nothing for granted' in Wellingborough.
On a visit to the seat on Wednesday, he said: "I think it's clear that people across Wellingborough, they want a fresh start. They know it's time for a change. And after 13 years, now going on 14 years, of the Conservatives, when people are paying more in tax, they're paying more on their mortgage thanks to decisions by the Conservative government, they are paying more on their energy bills, they're paying more in the shops, families are struggling and they know that there can be a better way.
"They want a government that is on their side and they want an MP who is on their side. So I think it's clear now that the country wants change. And here in Wellingborough, it's Labour offering that change."
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Labour Together - a think-tank closely associated with the Labour leadership - highlighted that a majority of the constituency's residents voted for Brexit. Director of Strategy Josh Williams said: "Wellingborough has a Tory majority of over 18,000 and overwhelmingly voted for Brexit. If Labour can win in Wellingborough it will be a remarkable victory.
"But this is a big ‘if’. The 18 percent swing Labour would need is more than current national polling. Labour has overturned some enormous majorities of late. But even a sizeable swing towards Labour that ends in the Tories scraping through will be yet more evidence that the country is ready for a change."
Brexiteer Mr Bone won the “middle England” seat from Labour with a 687 majority in 2005, which he increased to 18,540 in 2019. The petition was triggered after he was handed a six-week suspension from the Commons after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct. A probe ruled he flashed an aide trapped in his hotel room, repeatedly asked his researcher to give him massages and threw pens and other office equipment at him.
Mr Bone has been sitting as an Independent after losing the Conservative whip in the aftermath of the judgement. Defiant Mr Bone, who has not ruled out standing in the by-election as an Independent, insisted: “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. I will have more to say on these matters in the new year.”
The earliest a ballot could be held is February 8. The date will be announced in early January. Cabinet Minister Mel Stride today said the Tories would "fight for every single vote" to hold the constituency.
But with the Conservatives trailing Labour in national polls, Mr Stride admitted it would be "foolhardy" to say the party will definitely retain the seat. The Work and Pensions Secretary told Times Radio: "Yes, we have a fair bit of ground to make up but there is no strong burning passion for Keir Starmer or another Labour Government. There is a wide lead in the polls at the moment but it's very thin, and we will be fighting for every single vote."
Labour candidate Ms Kitchen said the recall petition result showed that constituents "want change". As the UK Labour candidate for Wellingborough and Rushden, I will work hard to be the fresh start that people want. Looking forward to a by-election in the new year," she tweeted. A general election is widely expected next autumn.
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