The comment came after Wakefield’s former MP was convicted of sexual assault
and resigned, triggering a by-election in the constituency, after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008 by a jury following a trial earlier this year. Mr Khan was jailed for 18 months in May.
The Conservatives could lose the key battleground seat, one of tens of constituencies Boris Johnson took from Labour in the so-called Red Wall during the 2019 general election, to Labour next Thursday amid anger over Mr Khan’s conviction and partygate, as well as concerns over the cost of living. With the Tiverton and Honiton by-election due to be held on the same day as Wakefield, on June 23, the Prime Minister faces the prospect of losing seats to Sir Keir Starmer’s party in the North of England and the Liberal Democrats in the South West.
Both by-elections are being held in controversial circumstances, with Tiverton and Honiton vacated by Neil Parish after he admitted to twice watching pornography in the Commons.