Apathy the frontrunner as parties struggle to make Mid Bedfordshire by-election breakthrough

Voters in Mid Bedfordshire , which Nadine Dorries had represented since 2005 , will go to the polls on Oct 19.

It will be one of two by-elections that day with Tamworth residents also voting on who to replace Chris Pincher , the disgraced former Tory whip whose resignation triggered Mr Johnson ’s political downfall.

Liberal Democrat hopeful Emma Holland-Lindsay has insisted her party are the “frontrunners’ to unseat the Conservatives .

But the Lib Dems have dismissed Mr Mackey’s chances, their own confidence fuelled by a belief Mid Bedfordshire voters have similar priorities to Somerton and Frome .