Tories fight for candidate in by-election after Chris Pincher's resignation

Chris Pincher released a statement saying he had «taken action to resign»; Photo: Richard Townshend Photography

Tory HQ is trying to find a candidate for a key by-election challenge to Labor following the resignation of disgraced former minister Chris Pincher.

Conservative officials need to find someone to stand as the party's candidate in Tamworth, even though they may only represent the seat for a year.

Eddie Hughes, MP for neighboring Walsall North , has already been selected to stand for the constituency at the next general election.

But he has withdrawn from the upcoming by-election, meaning the Tories will have to field another candidate against Labor.

The problem arose because Mr Pincher, a former deputy head of the party, announced on Thursday that he was leaving the House of Commons.

He has been sitting as an independent since he was sacked from the party following the scandal that erupted. led to the downfall of Boris Johnson.

In a statement released days after he lost his appeal suspended from parliament for eight weeks, he said he had “taken steps to resign.”

His announcement threw the Conservatives' plans for the constituency into chaos and left them without a candidate to challenge Labour.

Mr Hughes, whose own seat is effectively being abolished by boundary changes at the next election , already did it. was chosen to replace him.

But in order to stand in the upcoming elections, he will have to step down from his current post, which in turn will create another difficult fight in the by-election.

On Thursday he confirmed he would remain in his seat, saying he had made a «commitment to my constituents until the next general election».

It is unclear whether the candidate chosen to face Tamworth will be this time could possibly become an MP after next year's general election because — if it goes ahead — Tory HQ will have to find an alternative constituency for Mr Hughes, which could prove difficult.

Tamworth could be captured

In The city has been seen as a safe Conservative seat in recent years, with Pincher winning it with a comfortable majority of 19,634 in 2019.

But before that it was a Labor stronghold in the West Midlands and Sir Keir Starmer will be eyeing the prospect of winning back it, given the state of the polls.

By-elections are scheduled for October 19, the same day both parties will also face off. The former seat of Nadine Dorries in Bedfordshire.

There both Labor and the Liberal Democrats believe they have a chance of winning, which could lead to a split in the opposition vote in favor of the Tories.