Who is Helen Harrison? Peter Bone’s partner standing in Wellingborough by-election

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The Conservatives have three difficult by-elections to contest in February, with the Northamptonshire seat of Wellingborough looming massive in the general public eye.

Up for grabs after the departure of disgraced former MP Peter Bone, the native Conservative Party have chosen his partner – Helen Harrison – as his substitute candidate.

Wellingborough’s former MP Peter Bone was suspended from Parliament for six weeks final yr, following a watchdog report into his behaviour. The impartial panel discovered he had bullied and indecently uncovered himself to a member of workers, allegations which he continues to disclaim.

Ms Harrison has stood by her partner, telling the BBC that she believes the panel “got it wrong”. The former physiotherapist insists she is “proud” to have Mr Bone on the marketing campaign path along with her, and that voters haven’t been elevating the difficulty on the doorstep.

Following his suspension, voters in Wellingborough backed a petition to recall the MP, with 13.2 per cent of the required 10 per cent of the voters signing to set off a byelection. Both Mr Bone and Ms Harrison have maintained that this outcome doesn’t replicate the view of the bulk in the realm.

Ms Harrison, a chartered physiotherapist, has been a Conservative campaigner for plenty of years. Alongside her partner Peter Bone, she was a director of Grassroots Out, a cross occasion Brexit marketing campaign funded by millionaire UKIP donor Aaron Banks and backed by Nigel Farage.

Although not chosen to be the official lead Leave marketing campaign, which was additionally funded by Mr Banks, the group got here below criticism over allegations its existence allowed the Leave marketing campaign to keep away from strict Electoral Commission guidelines on spending. Responding on the time, Mr Bone mentioned: “Unlike the Remain campaign, we will not try to stitch up this vital vote on Britain’s future.”

In 2018, Mr Bone disclosed that he, then 65, and Ms Harrison, then 45, have been in a relationship. Mr Bone mentioned: “My wife and I have been living apart for more than two years, during which time I have formed a relationship with Helen Harrison.”

Their relationship got here below scrutiny because it was revealed that Ms Harrison had been employed by Mr Bone since June 2017 as Senior Parlimentary Assistant. Also in his employment on the time was his spouse Jennie Bone – who he had made a behavior of referring to in Parliamentary speeches – as his govt secretary. Both roles can be funded by public funds.

What does Helen Harrison stand for?

Ms Harrison is working on a coverage platform which echoes the federal government’s messaging

“I want to help deliver for the people of Wellingborough and Rushden, as we continue to focus on their priorities”, Ms Harrison mentioned upon her choice, “halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats.”

In 2017, Ms Harrison contested the seat of Bolsover in opposition to Labour’s Dennis Skinner, dropping by over 5,000 votes. Labour did subsequently lose the seat in the 2019 common election to the Conservatives’ Mark Fletcher.

As a neighborhood councillor for North Northamptonshire, Ms Harrison was Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, standing down from this place upon her choice. She stays a councillor for the ward of Oundle.

Who is working in opposition to Helen Harrison in Wellingborough?

There are 11 candidates working in the Wellingborough by-election, with the Conservatives successful 62 p.c of the vote in 2019. Labour would wish to attain a 17.9 p.c swing in order to safe victory – a smaller margin than their final three by-election wins in Tamworth, Selby & Ainsty and Mid Bedfordshire.

Her Labour opponent is Gen Kitchen, 28, who has a background in charity work. Speaking after her choice, Ms Kitchen mentioned: “I know the people of Wellingborough feel abandoned and neglected by this Tory government, and frankly embarrassed by the actions of their MP.”

Ms Harrison has additionally addressed reviews that Mr Bone had threatened his former occasion to face as an impartial candidate in the realm until she was chosen:

“The truth of the issue is that we were contacted by people within the party and it was suggested that Peter could resign before the recall petition started and it was suggested by those people I would be in the final selection to be the candidate. We turned that option down and Peter allowed the recall petition to go ahead.”