A MAKESHIFT date has been set for the by-election which is due to take place in South Gloucestershire.
Rishi Sunak faces a by-election challenge in Kingswood after former MP Chris Skidmore resigned last week.
He handed in his resignation on Friday, January 5 in protest at government plans to boost oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Elsewhere, another by-election is due to take place in Wellingborough to replace former MP Peter Bone.
Business in the House of Commons started this morning, Thursday, January 10 with government chief whip Simon Hart issuing the writs for the vacant seats of Wellingborough and Kingswood.
Both by-elections have to take place between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writs, suggesting they will take place on February 15.
Mr Skidmore had held the Kingswood seat since 2010, beating second-placed Labour by 11,220 votes at the last general election.
With his former constituency being abolished under the boundary review, Mr Skidmore had already announced his intention to stand down at the next election.
Following the 2023 constituency boundaries review, Kingswood is planned to be split up between three seats: North East Somerset and Hanham, Bristol North East, and Filton and Bradley Stoke.
The new boundaries will not impact the by-election, but any MP elected will have to move seats if they wish to stand in the next election.
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