October by-elections: what's at stake for Labour, Lib Dems and Tories

Parties will contest two former safe Tory seats on 19 October, putting pressure on Rishi Sunak

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey speaking to someone in Mid Bedfordshire constituency
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey canvassed for votes in the Mid Bedfordshire constituency this summer
(Image credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Two key by-elections on the same day in October, both triggered by dramatic Conservative resignations, could spell trouble for Rishi Sunak.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats are "making a full-tilt effort" to win the Mid Bedfordshire seat from the Conservatives on 19 October, said The Guardian, after Nadine Dorries triggered a by-election by resigning when she was "denied" a place on Boris Johnson's honours list

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Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.