What’s next for the Tories and Rishi Sunak after double by-election upset? Ask John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul will be taking your questions as Rishi Sunak suffers major blow, with Labour overturning Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire seats

Labour Party candidate Alistair Strathern gives a speech after winning the Mid Bedfordshire Parliamentary by-election, at the count centre in Shefford, north of London on 20 October 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

The Conservative Party is facing an election “armageddon” after suffering defeats in two fiercely contested by-elections.

Huge Tory majorities evaporated overnight in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming he was “redrawing the political map”.

Overturning the biggest majority in British by-election history, Labour snatched Nadine Dorries’ old Mid Bedfordshire seat from the Tories for the first time.

Meanwhile, Tamworth saw the second biggest swing ever from the Conservative Party to Labour in a by-election.

Former chancellor George Osborne warned the record defeats spell “armageddon” for the Conservatives at the next general election.

So what happens next for the Tory party? And how will this impact what Rishi Sunak does next?

Are the results are clear foreshadowing of what’s in store at the next election? Or is there further nuance at play?

If you have a question on the by election fallout, submit it now here, or when I join you live at 3pm on Friday 20 October for the “Ask Me Anything” event.

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