Get ready for a political showdown as two by-elections are officially on the horizon following a bullying scandal and a shock resignation from Conservative Party MPs.

Residents in the constituencies of Kingswood, near Bristol, and Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire, are in for a chance to pick fresh faces for Westminster.

The drama unfolds with the resignation of former minister Chris Skidmore from his Kingswood seat in parliament. His departure this week, driven by his opposition to the government’s green policies, sets the stage for a heated battle for a new representative.

Adding more spice to the mix, Peter Bone finds himself suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party and recalled by his constituents after a parliamentary investigation unearthed acts of bullying and sexual misconduct. However, Mr. Bone staunchly rejects the investigation’s findings.

The starting gun for the by-election process has been fired with the writ being moved. The votes are slated to take place between 21 and 27 working days from today, paving the way for a next-month showdown. The exact date will be decided by the relevant councils. Keep in mind that these by-elections precede the local elections in May and the general election later in the year.

Hold on to your hats, as any winning candidate will face an almost immediate return to the polls. The candidate selection process is already underway to replace Mr. Bone and Mr. Skidmore.

Adding a twist to Wellingborough, the Conservative candidate for Mr. Bone’s seat is his girlfriend, Helen Harrison, also a local councillor. Labour is backing Gen Kitchen, the Lib Dems have chosen Ana Savage Gunn, Reform has nominated Ben Habib, and the Greens have picked Will Morris.

As for Mr. Skidmore’s recently announced resignation, only Labour has so far revealed its candidate – Damien Egan.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces a series of by-elections, with his party losing previously held seats in all but one instance. The Tories narrowly retained Uxbridge and South Ruislip, the former stronghold of Boris Johnson, amidst opposition to London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), implemented by Labour’s Sadiq Khan. However, sizeable Conservative majorities were overturned in Selby and Ainsty, Somerton and Frome, Mid Bedfordshire, and Tamworth.”