Patrick Mercer quits as MP and triggers awkward by-election in Newark

Patrick Mercer has quit as an MP. The Sun has the story, with the former Conservative saying:

‘It is clear to me that the constituency of Newark needs to be represented properly. I will not argue will the findings of the committee and I can only humbly apologise.

“My military background has taught me that you must never let down the people who depend on you, and those people are my constituents of Newark. If that becomes the case, you must go without any argument.’

Now the question is when the Newark by-election will take place. It is a nightmare for the Conservative party, which would perhaps have rather he’d stuck around festering on the benches as an independent than trigger a by-election that involves a battle with Ukip.