https://sputnikglobe.com/20220622/runners-and-riders-in-double-british-by-election-in-yorkshire-and-devon-1096559608.html
Runners and Riders in Double British By-Election in Yorkshire and Devon
Runners and Riders in Double British By-Election in Yorkshire and Devon
Sputnik International
The votes pose challenges for all, with PM Boris Johnson under fire, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer struggling to overcome his public image as Britain's most... 22.06.2022, Sputnik International
2022-06-22T17:04+0000
2022-06-22T17:04+0000
2023-05-28T15:19+0000
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Voters in two English constituencies go to the polls on Thursday to replace disgraced Tory MPs - but can opposition parties make gains?The by-elections in the West Yorkshire city of Wakefield and the Devon seat of Tiverton and Honiton are tests for the ruling Conservatives, as well as the Labour and Liberal Democrat opposition.Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson barely survived a backbencher-led vote of no-confidence in his leadership a fortnight ago, amid a series of scandals including a £50 police fine over a surprise staff birthday party for him at Downing Street during the first COVID-19 lockdown.For his part, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is struggling to overcome his public image as Britain's most "boring" politician amid his own unfolding 'beergate' scandal, while the Liberal Democrats continue their century-long battle to remain politically relevant.In Yorkshire, Conservative Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan finally stood down in May following his conviction for a sexual assault on a teenage boy in 2008. Khan had already had the Tory whip withdrawn and was subsequently expelled from the party.Khan took the northern seat from Labour's Mary Creagh at the 2019 election that saw the Tories win some 50 formerly safe Labour seats across the northern 'Red Wall'. His slim majority of 3,358 could be easily overturned.But the Labour Party bureaucracy managed to throw a spanner in its own works by excluding popular left-wing candidate and Wakefield City Council Deputy Leader Jack Hemingway from their shortlist. Local members were left to choose between two hopefuls from outside the area in breach of party policy and leadership promises. As a result, the local Labour leadership resigned on mass at the close of the selection meeting that chose Simon Lightwood.The new Tory candidate is Nadeem Ahmed, a councillor for Wakefield South and former leader of the council's opposition Conservative group from 2014 to 2021.Northern Tories felt snubbed over the weekend when Johnson pulled out of an event in the Yorkshire city of Doncaster to make a surprise visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.There are also a dozen other candidates running for the seat, including Lib Dem Jamie Needle and independent Jayda Fransen, former acting leader of the far-right Britain First party.For his part, Christian People's Alliance candidate Paul Bickerdike got a few laughs with his election leaflet assuring voters he had "never sexually assaulted anyone," and explaining that he was "happily married to Janet."But the Labour party bureaucracy managed to throw a spanner in its own works by excluding left-wing candidate and Wakefield City Council deputy leader Jack Hemingway from the shortlist, leaving local members to choose between two hopefuls from outside the area in breach of party policy and leadership promises.The local branch leadership resigned on mass at the close of the selection meeting that chose Simon Lightwood.The new Tory candidate is Nadeem Ahmed, a councillor for the Wakefield South ward and former leader of the council's opposition Conservative group from 2014 to 2021.Northern Tories felt snubbed over the weekend when Johnson pulled out of an event in the south Yorkshire city of Doncaster to make a surprise visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. Typically for a British by-election there are a dozen other candidates running for the seat, including Lib Dem Jamie Needle and independent Jayda Fransen, former acting leader of the far-right Britain First party — which is standing its own candidate.Christian People's Alliance candidate Paul Bickerdike got a few laughs with his election leaflet assuring voters he had "never sexually assaulted anyone," being "happily married to Janet."In rural southwest England, the Tiverton and Honiton seat in the Tory heartlands is also up for grabs after Tory MP Neil Parish resigned after being spotted viewing pornography on his cellphone twice during parliamentary debates. Parish insisted he tapped the wrong link while looking for farm machinery websites.Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Foord is hoping to overturn 2019’s 24,000-vote Tory majority, with his party claiming that canvassing showed they were trailing Conservative hopeful Helen Hurford by 44 per cent to 46.Labour's candidate is Liz Pole, who came a distant second to Parish in 2019. Five candidates from smaller parties including the Greens, Reform UK and UKIP are also standing.
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Runners and Riders in Double British By-Election in Yorkshire and Devon
17:04 GMT 22.06.2022 (Updated: 15:19 GMT 28.05.2023) The votes pose challenges for all, with PM Boris Johnson under fire, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer struggling to overcome his public image as Britain's most "boring" politician, and the Liberal Dems battling to remain politically relevant.
Voters in two English constituencies go to the polls on Thursday to replace disgraced Tory MPs - but can opposition parties make gains?
The by-elections in the West Yorkshire city of Wakefield and the Devon seat of Tiverton and Honiton are tests for the ruling Conservatives, as well as the Labour and Liberal Democrat opposition.
Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson barely survived a backbencher-led vote of no-confidence in his leadership a fortnight ago, amid a series of scandals including a £50 police fine over a surprise staff birthday party for him at Downing Street during the first COVID-19 lockdown.
For his part, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is struggling to overcome his public image as Britain's most
"boring" politician amid his own unfolding
'beergate' scandal, while the Liberal Democrats continue their century-long battle to remain politically relevant.
In Yorkshire, Conservative Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan finally stood down in May following his conviction for a sexual assault on a teenage boy in 2008. Khan had already had the Tory whip withdrawn and was subsequently expelled from the party.
Khan took the northern seat from Labour's Mary Creagh at the 2019 election that saw the Tories win some 50 formerly safe Labour seats across the northern 'Red Wall'. His slim majority of 3,358 could be easily overturned.
But the Labour Party bureaucracy managed to throw a spanner in its own works by
excluding popular left-wing candidate and Wakefield City Council Deputy Leader Jack Hemingway from their shortlist. Local members were left to choose between two hopefuls from outside the area in breach of party policy and leadership promises. As a result, the local Labour leadership resigned on mass at the close of the selection meeting that chose Simon Lightwood.
The new Tory candidate is Nadeem Ahmed, a councillor for Wakefield South and former leader of the council's opposition Conservative group from 2014 to 2021.
Northern Tories felt snubbed over the weekend when Johnson pulled out of an event in the Yorkshire city of Doncaster to make a
surprise visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.
There are also a dozen other candidates running for the seat, including Lib Dem Jamie Needle and independent Jayda Fransen, former acting leader of the far-right Britain First party.
For his part, Christian People's Alliance candidate Paul Bickerdike got a few laughs with his election leaflet assuring voters he had "never sexually assaulted anyone," and explaining that he was "happily married to Janet."
But the Labour party bureaucracy managed to throw a spanner in its own works by
excluding left-wing candidate and Wakefield City Council deputy leader Jack Hemingway from the shortlist, leaving local members to choose between two hopefuls from outside the area in breach of party policy and leadership promises.
The local branch leadership resigned on mass at the close of the selection meeting that chose Simon Lightwood.
The new Tory candidate is Nadeem Ahmed, a councillor for the Wakefield South ward and former leader of the council's opposition Conservative group from 2014 to 2021.
Northern Tories felt snubbed over the weekend when Johnson pulled out of an event in the south Yorkshire city of Doncaster to make a
surprise visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.
Typically for a British by-election there are a dozen other candidates running for the seat, including Lib Dem Jamie Needle and independent Jayda Fransen, former acting leader of the far-right Britain First party — which is standing its own candidate.
Christian People's Alliance candidate Paul Bickerdike got a few laughs with his election leaflet assuring voters he had "never sexually assaulted anyone," being "happily married to Janet."
"I do look at children but I look at children in a proper way, not the way that the previous MP was looking at children," Bickerdike clarified to a local reporter.
In rural southwest England, the Tiverton and Honiton seat in the Tory heartlands is also up for grabs after Tory MP Neil Parish resigned after being spotted viewing pornography on his cellphone twice during parliamentary debates. Parish insisted he tapped the wrong link while looking for farm machinery websites.
Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Foord is hoping to overturn 2019’s 24,000-vote Tory majority, with his party claiming that canvassing showed they were trailing Conservative hopeful Helen Hurford by 44 per cent to 46.
Labour's candidate is Liz Pole, who came a distant second to Parish in 2019. Five candidates from smaller parties including the Greens, Reform UK and UKIP are also standing.
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