Though it’s hard to see how he can find a seat before the next general election – given the hazardous nature of by-elections.
Tory MPs will now get hard evidence of how much political damage Johnson has sustained over Partygate.
Applying a recall mechanism without conditions would rebalance politics by shifting power from officials to voters.
A barrister and senior figure in the Conservative Policy Forum, she will defend Amess’ majority of over 14,000.
This “veteran, surgeon, and barrister” – and ConHome contributor – will inherit Paterson’s majority of almost 23,000.
The further the act of leaving the EU recedes, the more 2019’s Tory voters will move on – as two recent by-elections reminded us.
But this electoral Titan has an Achilles heel – tax rises which, rather than planning or HS2, are the real threat to future Chesham & Amershams.
Annual net migration currently suggests 55,000 more homes a year since the 2014 projections – more than the entire rise planned after the housing row.
The Government’s planning proposals haven’t even gone out to consultation yet – and everyone knows that the current system’s broken.
Lib Dem leader says Conservatives “have taken people for granted” who feel Johnson is “not in tune with traditional Tory values”.
Plus: Why Johnson will end lockdown in July, but is to blame for maintaining it. And: Labour. Seen as too anti-Semitic in some places… not enough in others.
In the aftermath of the by-election, ConHome republishes Henry Hill’s post-May analysis of the threat to the Conservatives in the South.
Clarity is needed that “levelling up” is not intended to mean class war against the more affluent.
Plus: Batley & Spen is no Hartlepool. LibDems eye Chesham & Amersham. And: will the West Ham variant hit Europe?
However, the comments from individual voters make it less obvious that these results will predict the next general election.