Rishi Sunak set to face prolonged run of by-elections

Rishi Sunak has set in train two perilous by-elections in Tory seats next month but has been left guessing when he will be able to call a third contest in the seat held by former minister Nadine Dorries.

Sunak on Wednesday introduced the legal writs required to trigger the contests to be held in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Boris Johnson’s former seat, and Selby, the seat held by Johnson’s ally Nigel Adams. Both formally quit as MPs this week.