Three Tory by-election defences in the offing? – politicalbetting.com

TheTimes reported that the Tories could face three election defenses due to Johnson’s resignation when he nominates the current incumbents in the top seats for the House of Lords.

We have known about Dorries and Mid-Bedfordshire for some time. The former PM had hoped that his promotion to the Lords would have to take place before the end of this parliament to avoid a general election, but that was unlikely to happen. As soon as he is named he must resign from his Commons seat.

While Jack and Sharma have a fairly small majority Dorries looks on the face is safer. We know that LD started campaigning in the Mid-Beds when the first rumors about the list came out and no doubt this latest report could lead to a renewed effort.

My guess is that if the by-election takes place then all three seats will be lost – the SNP takes the Scottish seat, the LAB Reading one and the LDs in the middle-Beds.

Everything depends on when the three are actually raised to God. Sunak, of course, prefers later than sooner.

Mike Smithson