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Rochester by-election date set for 20 November Rochester by-election date set for 20 November
(about 1 hour later)
The by-election caused by the defection of Conservative MP Mark Reckless to the UK Independence Party will take place on 20 November. The by-election caused by the defection of Conservative MP Mark Reckless to UKIP 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.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 should happen earlier.
But a Conservative source called this claim "ludicrous", as Parliament had been in recess since before Mr Reckless changed party.
This meant that, given the Speaker needs 24 hours' notice once the Commons is sitting before a writ can be moved, it had happened at the earliest possible point, they added.
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.
They are asking the voters of Rochester and Strood, via a postal ballot, which of its two potential candidates they want to select - marine surveyor Kelly Tolhurst or former barrister Anna Firth.
Timings
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. This happened on the same day as Labour held on to Heywood and Middleton, Greater Manchester, but UKIP narrowed the party's majority in the seat to just 617.
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.
A party source said of the chosen date: "They are going long because they are running scared of the voters."
But a Conservative source said: "It's ludicrous to suggest we've delayed the by-election date. We moved the writ as soon as we could and are carrying out a full postal primary which gives every single resident in Rochester and Strood a say on our candidate. This is about as democratic and open as by-elections come.
"If anyone's running scared it's Labour who timed their Heywood and Middleton by-election to coincide with the one in Clacton, to rob their opponents of a fair run - and even then they almost lost."
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.