UK: Labour wins recall race against Conservative MP

Labour has won the replacement race in the recall election against former Conservative MP Peter Bone.

Gen Kitchen (Labour) beat Conservative Helen Harrison, Kitchen won by 6436, which was a major reversal of Bone's 18540 vote victory.

The recall got to the ballot after Bone was suspended for six weeks for sexual misconduct and bullying his staff. As per UK rules the office was vacated and Bone could have run in the replacement race (he did not). Bone had been in office since 2005 and was previously deputy leader of Commons. Petitioners handed in 10505 signatures and needed 7904.

As with other recalls in UK, a suspension of 10 days from Parliament leads to the ability to start a recall petition. If enough signatures are gathered, the official is automatically removed and a by-election is scheduled.