The suspended MP has announced he has tendered his resignation after “the honour of a lifetime” in representing Blackpool South.
Labour held the seat from 1997 to 2019.
The MP for Blackpool South – for now – is the 15th MP sitting as an independent. That’s more than the Liberal Democrats.
CCHQ insists that “there is no chicken run” and that a Party panel has approved the procedure. But what will other Conservative MPs and Tory activists make of it?
Rishi Sunak must appear reasonable enough to those MPs who are worried about our international obligations, and impatient enough to those who worry he is not sufficiently serious about tackling small boats.
More women. Fewer minorities. Lots of councillors and former candidates. And fewer married people. Our complete guide to the new intake of Tory MPs.