Lib Dems prepare to give new Prime Minister a by-election headache in Nadine Dorries seat

Exclusive:

The party is set to launch the process of selecting a race to replace Nadine Dorries if she receives a peerage from lame duck Boris Johnson

(

Image: Reuters)

The Lib Dems are preparing to give Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak a by-election headache in the months after Boris Johnson finally quits.

The party is about to start the process of selecting a race to replace Nadine Dorries if she is installed in the Lords by the lame PM.

Ms Dorries, Culture Secretary and Johnson ally, is up for a peerage in the ousted Prime Minister's resignation honors list.

His elevation to the upper house would trigger a by-election in his Mid-Befordshire seat - which Ed Davy's party says may be up for the job.

Lib Dem leaders believe the seat is similar to the three blue wall strongholds the party successfully took from the Tories in recent by-elections: Tiverton and Honiton, North Shropshire and Chesham and Amersham.

>

Party leaders today told campaign teams they would also prepare for possible by-elections in Selby and Ainsty, held by Tory MP Nigel Adams, and in North East Somerset, held by Jacob Rees Mogg.

Rumor has it that both MPs would be nominated for peerages in Mr Johnson's buddy honors list.

Boris Johnson is still on holiday in Greece (

Picture:

Instagram)

The email reads: "There are still a few weeks to go before the Prime Minister actually steps down. When he does, there will be a resignation honors list which is likely to move more MPs to the House of Lords. The result will be more by-elections.

"In September we will hold the selections for the three seats we think are most likely to become vacant. These are Mid-Bedfordshire, North-East Somerset and Selby & Ainsty. From our perspective and depending on the moment, all three could be interesting.

"We have achieved three brilliant by-election results in the past year; with excellent candidates and strong campaign teams, we hope for more."