Helen Harrison has been selected as the Conservative candidate for the upcoming Wellingborough by-election. A local councillor in North Northamptonshire, Harrison’s name has appeared previously in short-lists for Chippenham, Rugby, and Bridgewater. She stood in Bolsover in 2017; works as a physiotherapist; has contributed to ConservativeHome; and was amongst the directors of Grassroot Out, a pro-Brexit pressure group.
Whatever Harrison’s personal qualities as a candidate, her selection has immediately been overshadowed by her personal life. Harrison is the girlfriend of Peter Bone: the current Wellingborough MP who has been forced to stand down following the upholding of claims of bullying and sexual misconduct against a staff member and the loss of the Conservative whip.
The Sunday Times reported in November that Bone was planning to stand as an independent in a by-election unless Harrison was included in the short-list, and that he had offered to resign immediately if CCHQ agreed to this. Bone rejects this allegation – arguing “the allegations against [him] are untrue and without foundation” – but wouldn’t be surprised if Harrison made the final list.
Harrison said she is “delighted to have been selected… for Wellingborough”, and that as “the local candidate” she is “best suited to deliver” for the constituency. Richard Holden has congratulated Harrison on her selection, having attended what he called “a packed meeting” in person. She faced Beatrice Brandon, a Church of England consultant, and Tom Mercer, a farming entrepreneur.
This will be Rishi Sunak’s tenth by-election as Prime Minister and is not expected to be held before February. Harrison will be defending a majority of 18, 540 from her boyfriend. She will face Ben Habib – the former MEP and Deputy Leader of Reform UK – and Gen Kitchen, a former Labour councillor and a charity fundraising manager. The seat voted 62.4 per cent to Leave in 2016.
ConservativeHome wishes Harrison luck in a seat with a smaller majority than Labour overturned in Mid Bedfordshire last October. Even if Harrison keeps Wellingborough blue, Sunak now faces a by-election in Kingswood – Tory majority of 11, 220 – following Chris Skidmore’s resignation, and a potential one in Blackpool South – Tory majority of 3, 690 – following Scott Benton’s 35-day suspension.