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| Rochester by-election date set for 20 November | Rochester by-election date set for 20 November |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The by-election caused by the defection of Conservative MP Mark Reckless to the UK Independence Party will take place on 20 November. | |
| In the Commons, Government Chief Whip Michael Gove moved the writ for the contest to take place in Rochester and Strood, Kent. | |
| Labour has said the by-election could and should happen earlier. | Labour has said the by-election could and should happen earlier. |
| Meanwhile, the Conservatives have narrowed their possible candidates down to a field of two. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives have narrowed their possible candidates down to a field of two. |
| Mr Reckless is contesting the Rochester seat for UKIP. He is hoping to replicate the success of fellow defector Douglas Carswell, who won Clacton in Essex in a by-election last week with a majority of more than 12,000. | Mr Reckless is contesting the Rochester seat for UKIP. He is hoping to replicate the success of fellow defector Douglas Carswell, who won Clacton in Essex in a by-election last week with a majority of more than 12,000. |
| The Conservatives are asking the voters of Rochester and Strood, not just party members, which of its two potential candidates - marine surveyor Kelly Tolhurst and former barrister Anna Firth - they want to select. They will all be sent a postal ballot. | The Conservatives are asking the voters of Rochester and Strood, not just party members, which of its two potential candidates - marine surveyor Kelly Tolhurst and former barrister Anna Firth - they want to select. They will all be sent a postal ballot. |
| Labour has accused the Conservatives of delaying the election to remove some of the momentum UKIP is enjoying following the success in Clacton. Mr Carswell took his Commons seat on Monday for the first time since his win. | Labour has accused the Conservatives of delaying the election to remove some of the momentum UKIP is enjoying following the success in Clacton. Mr Carswell took his Commons seat on Monday for the first time since his win. |
| Mr Reckless won Rochester and Strood with a 9,953 majority at the last general election. | Mr Reckless won Rochester and Strood with a 9,953 majority at the last general election. |