More by-election pain for Sunak with vote in 'groping' row MP's seat

Rishi Sunak faces more by-election misery with MPs set to hammer former Tory whip Chris Pincher over ‘groping’ – as poll suggests party faces the worst ever hammering ever in Nadine Dorries’ seat

Rishi Sunak is set to face more by-election misery after the summer break – as his party faces what could be the largest vote defeat in UK political history.

A report into the behaviour of former Tory whip Chris Pincher is expected to recommend he be banned from the Commons for more than 10 days over claims he drunkenly groped young men.

Though Mr Pincher has already decided to stand down at the next election, any ban of that length would allow voters to trigger a by-election before then via a recall petition in his Tamworth seat.

The MP, who has sat as an independent for a year, has a majority of 19,634, but that may not be enough for the Tories to hold it. 

New polling suggests the party is on course to lose Mid-Bedfordshire, ostensibly one of the safest Tory seats in the country, in the largest ever by-election defeat in the UK.

Former minister Nadine Dorries has a majority of 24,664 but polling by Opinium today, that will send shockwaves through Tory ranks, suggests it will fall to Labour anyway. 

A report into the behaviour of former Tory whip Chris Pincher is expected to recommend he be banned from the Commons for more than 10 days for drunkenly groping a young man.

New polling suggests the party is on course to lose Mid-Bedfordshire, ostensibly one of the safest Tory seats in the country, in the largest ever by-election defeat in the UK.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay today told Sky’s Ridge on Sunday: ‘We recognise that it is tough, because we have had a pandemic, we have had a war in Europe. That has had a big impact in terms of inflation, in cost of living.’

Ms Dorries has yet to formally resign and trigger a by-election, so it will not happen before Parliament’s summer break starts later this month.

The party is already facing a triple-header of vote son July 20 in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Somerton and Frome, and Selby and Ainsty. 

Tory sources have been very downbeat about their chances of holding any of them, though the latter, in south Yorkshire, is seen as the best chance.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay today told Sky’s Ridge on Sunday: ‘We recognise that it is tough, because we have had a pandemic, we have had a war in Europe. That has had a big impact in terms of inflation, in cost of living.

But look at what Labour is coming forward with, nothing in terms of helping on inflation – they want to add £28billion to our debt, that will make the problem worse  – if you look at stopping the small boats, there is no proposal from Labour to do so, absolute silence on that.’

Mr Pincher  was stripped of the Tory whip and resigned as deputy chief whip last July after admitting he had ’embarrassed himself and other people’, after drinking too much at the elite Carlton Club in London, though he denies any sexual misconduct.

It is the second time his behaviour has landed him in hot water. In 2017 the unmarried MP stepped down as an assistant whip and referred himself to police after The Mail on Sunday revealed how he made a pass at former Olympic rower and Tory activist Alex Story while dressed in a bathrobe.

Sources told the Sunday Times that the report into his behaviour was expected to be released before July 20. 

A by-election in his seat would cause a large problem for the Conservatives. Eddie Hughes, the Walsall MP, has already announced his plans to quit that seat so he can run in Tamworth instead at the next general election.

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