Katy Balls Katy Balls

Will the Tories lose all three of next week’s by-elections?

Despite winning a majority in the region of 80 in the 2019 general election, the Tories’ working majority currently stands at 60. After next week’s triple by-election it could be reduced even further. On Thursday voters will go to the polls in three seats currently held by the Conservatives: Selby and Ainsty (20,137), Somerton and Frome (19,213) and Uxbridge and South Ruislip (7,210). The working assumption among many of the MPs and activists who have gone to campaign is they they have a good chance of losing all three.

As things stand, Somerton and Frome – sparked by the resignation of David Warburton – is seen by the Tories as the hardest to hold onto, with the Liberal Democrats expected to win the seat comfortably. Selby and Aintsy is the seat (which Hannah Tomes takes the temperature of here)

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