Why Sunak will dread the by-election headache forced by Nadine Dorries

The PM’s old enemy aims to inflict damage – and boost book sales – during his planned autumn reset. Adam Forrest takes a closer look at the trouble ahead

Rishi Sunak faces another electoral test in October (PA)

With the Taylor Swift concert, SoulCycle classes and beach walks in California now distant holiday memories, Rishi Sunak is spending the end of his summer thinking about how to reset his premiership in the hope he can run the country for a while longer.

The prime minister and his team have started writing the October conference speech, planned more combative attacks on Labour, and begun preparing a mini-reshuffle ahead of a push taking them into a long, unofficial election campaign of 2024.

Nadine Dorries has spent her summer plotting how best to damage Sunak. The ardent Boris Johnson supporter managed to hold off from resigning her seat before the recess, timing her exit for the crucial “reset” period in the weeks ahead. The Mid Bedfordshire by-election vote is expected soon after the party conference in the first week of October.