Will Sir Alok force a byelection?

THERE could be a byelection in Reading West if one of the town’s two MPs accepts a peerage.

On leaving office, a prime minister is entitled to a resignation honours list and it is understood that Sir Alok Sharma could be elevated to the House of Lords thanks to Boris Johnson.

The disgraced former prime minister was forced to resign after more than 50 ministers said they could no longer work for him.

Despite quitting a year ago, his resignation list has yet to be approved.

It is rumoured that it includes his father, Stanley Johnson, as well as MPs Scottish secretary Alister

Jack, former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, Nigel Adams, and Sir Alok, who was Cop26 president.

The Times reports that only Jack wants to stay as an MP. It had been hoped the peerages could have been delayed until the forthcoming general election – which must be held by January 2025. However, the newspaper understands the House of Lords Appointments Commission said this would be ‘constitutionally improper’.

Johnson’s list is expected to be announced before parliament breaks for summer on July 20.

If a byelection is held, it will be along the current constituency boundaries, whereas the general election will see Reading divided into three: Reading, Earley and Woodley which includes parts of Wokingham borough, and Mid Berkshire, which covers areas including Theale, Calcot, Burghfield and parts of Tilehurst.

Election Maps UK tweeted last night that if a Reading West contest is held, Labour has a commanding opinion poll lead with 55%, against Conservatives 29% and Lib Dems 6%.

The website compiles polling results based on GB wide polling and then number crunched to provide a prediction. It is a snapshot of what could happen if a general election was called at that moment in time, not in a few months or years ahead, and is not a prediction of a general election.

Sir Alok has not commented on the reports.