Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election: Should the Conservatives be worried?

Following the untimely death of James Brokenshire in early October, the constituents of Old Bexley and Sidcup will go to the polls on December 2nd to elect a new member of parliament.

The Conservatives expect to retain the seat, having won the seat at every election since its formation in 1983. But it has been a difficult period for the party and Boris Johnson’s leadership.

Whether it is the MPs’ sleaze row, questions over Britain’s handling of the migrant Channel crossings, or Boris Johnson’s much-derided “Peppa Pig speech”, it has been a rough few weeks for the Conservatives.

What happens here will be a key litmus test of whether recent events have cut through to the public.