Tories urge Lord Frost to stand in key Red Wall by-election

Lord Frost is being urged to stand in the forthcoming Wakefield by-election, the daily Mail can reveal today.

At a critical time for the Government, the Tory Party is under pressure to field a high-profile candidate who can cling on to the marginal red Wall seat.

MPs and friends have asked the former Brexit chief to step in. He would have to quit the House of Lords to run, which he can following a 2014 change to the rules.

A number of Tory MPs went public with their support for the idea yesterday and described the prospect of Lord Frost in the House of Commons as a ‘tantalising possibility’.

Some friends have suggested he would be a ‘great candidate’ for a senior Cabinet role, or even a future prime minister, describing him as ‘statesmanlike’.

Last night, Lord Frost did not

‘It is a tantalising possibility’

comment on entreaties to him to stand. But a friend said: ‘Many people would like to see Lord Frost back in full-time politics.

‘Colleagues have highlighted to him that it is possible for a peer to resign from the Lords and stand for the Commons.

‘The unexpected Wakefield by-election is certainly an opportunity and it needs a high-profile and serious candidate. If the party and colleagues pressed him to stand I am sure he would look at this very seriously.’

Lord Frost is highly popular among Conservative backbenchers for securing the deal that enabled Britain to leave the European Union.

And his criticism of recent tax rises, costly green policies and stringent Covid rules has chimed with many on the right wing of the party.

The Wakefield by-election was triggered this week when Imran Ahmad Khan announced he would resign as a Tory MP after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.

Labour had held the seat since the 1930s until Khan’s victory in the 2019 general election, when the Tories demolished the ‘red Wall’ of hitherto impregnable northern constituencies. But the Conservatives will face a tricky battle to retain the seat, amid anger from voters over the cost of living crisis, Partygate and the challenges of a mid-parliamentary term poll.

Last night, several Tory MPs publicly urged Lord Frost to consider running.

Former minister Steve Baker said: ‘The idea of Lord Frost in the House of Commons is a tantalising possibility.’

He added: ‘Too few people know that it is possible to swap from the Lords to the Commons, and it is certainly worth bearing in mind.

‘But I wouldn’t blame Lord Frost if he chose not to do it this time round.’

Mr Baker said that he would like the career diplomat to be a member of the Commons ‘for many years and a secretary of state – at least’.

The law was changed in 2014 to allow peers to resign as sitting members, meaning that – while life peerages cannot be relinquished – membership of the Upper House now can.

Life peers who are no longer a member of the House of Lords regain the right to vote in elections to the Commons – and can stand for election as an MP.

Khan won Wakefield by 3,358 votes over Labour former frontbencher Mary Creagh but the Conservatives will be nervous about maintaining that lead.

Miss Creagh yesterday confirmed that she would not seek to run again – adding to pressure on party leader Sir Keir Starmer to find a candidate who can recapture the seat.

A date for the by-election has not yet been set.