JOHN MANN RESIGNS

John Mann has today resigned as an MP, clearing up any confusion that followed his comments towards the end of last week.  He will take a seat in the House of Lords and begin his new role as the government's 'anti-Semitism tsar'.  He has already adjusted his Twitter profile to reflect his new status (see below).  It appears that he won't take up the Labour whip in the Lords and will sit as a crossbench peer.

Asides from the loss of one more pro-Leave voice from the Commons it means that a by-election will take place in Bassetlaw, assuming that a general election is blocked from taking place this year.  Labour would be defending a majority of less than 5,000 in a strong pro-Leave seat.  However, if the Tories and Brexit Party both stand it doesn't take a genius to work out what will happen (as it did in both Peterborough and Brecon).  Boris, Nigel - it's time to talk and get a Leave Alliance up and running.

Bassetlaw general election 2017

John Mann (Lab) 27,467 (52.6%) +3.9%
Annette Simpson (Con) 22,615 (43.3%) +12.6%
Leon Duveen (Lib Dem) 1,154 (2.2%) −0.5%
Nigel Turner (Ind) 1,014 (1.9%) New

Bassetlaw general election 2015

John Mann (Lab) 23,965 (48.6%) -1.8%
Sarah Downes (Con) 15,122 (30.7%) -3.2%
Dave Scott (UKIP) 7,865 (16.0%) +12.4%
Leon Duveen (Lib Dem) 1,331 (2.7%) -8.5%
Kristopher Wragg (Green) 1,006 (2.0%) New