The polls are open for the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections. The results are due in the early hours of Friday – with the Tories at risk of losing both of them. The votes have long been seen as a crunch point for Boris Johnson’s premiership – even though the fact that there was a confidence vote just weeks ago means that it is unlikely to lead to another. To hold another vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, MPs would have to change the rules and no-one expects them to try to do this so soon after the last one.
Expectations are so low that if they manage to hold on to one of the two seats, expect it to be heralded a triumph
Instead, the results have the potential to solidify concerns among MPs over the direction of Johnson’s government and his ability to lead them into the next election.
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