{"id":42905,"date":"2023-12-20T19:49:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T19:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pieroselvaggio.com\/?p=42905"},"modified":"2023-12-20T19:49:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T19:49:05","slug":"tory-ministers-to-fight-for-every-single-vote-in-sunaks-by-election-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pieroselvaggio.com\/2023\/12\/20\/tory-ministers-to-fight-for-every-single-vote-in-sunaks-by-election-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Tory ministers to fight for ‘every single vote’ in Sunak’s by-election test"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tory ministers have admitted they are fighting \u201cfor every single vote\u201d in a fresh by-election test for Rishi Sunak.<\/p>\n

Voters in Wellingborough voted to oust disgraced MP Peter Bone after being accused of bullying and sexual misconduct in 2012 and 2013.<\/p>\n

And bookmakers have claimed Labour are strong favourites to overturn the Conservatives 18,000 majority in the seat.<\/p>\n

Such a result would be a hammer blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he prepared to call a General Election next year.<\/p>\n

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said it would be \u201cvery foolhardy\u201d to predict the result now but stressed: “We\u2019re going to fight for every single vote.”<\/p>\n

\u201cYes we have a fair bit of ground to make up but there is no strong burning passion for Keir Starmer or another Labour government,” he told Times Radio.<\/p>\n

“I accept that we are quite a long way behind in the polls,\u201d he added, while insisting that Labour\u2019s lead of nearly 20 points was \u201cvery wide but very thin\u201d.<\/p>\n

Labour claimed voters are ready for change.<\/p>\n

Mr Bone. who could stand as an independent MP, said the 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”.<\/p>\n

“These allegations are totally untrue and without foundation.”<\/p>\n

He said 68,897 people “chose not to sign the petition which represents 86.8per cent of the electorate”, adding: “I will have more to say on these matters in the new year.”<\/p>\n

Labour Together\u2019s Josh Williams added: \u201cWellingborough has a Tory majority of over 18,000 and overwhelmingly voted for Brexit. If Labour can win it will be a remarkable victory.”<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this is a big \u2018if\u2019. The 18 percent swing Labour would need is more than current national polling. Labour has overturned some enormous majorities of late.”<\/p>\n

\u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n