Peter Bone's girlfriend Helen Harrison selected by Conservative members to fight Wellingborough by-election seat

North Northamptonshire Council executive member Helen Harrison has been selected as the Conservative candidate for disgraced MP Peter Bone’s former seat.

Ms Harrison, who is Peter Bone’s girlfriend, was selected by a meeting of around 50 local association Conservatives at the John Wright Golf Club in Rushden on Sunday afternoon (January 7).

It is not yet known how many votes she polled compared the other two candidates, farming entrepreneur Tom Mercer and Dr Beatrice Brandon.

The controversial choice means comes after Ms Harrison openly supported her partner, with whom she lives in Irchester, following his suspension from Parliament for sexual misconduct.

Until his recent sacking, Helen Harrison worked in Mr Bone’s constituency office in Midland Road alongside his wife Jennie Bone, who is also a North Northamptonshire Council member.

Ms Harrison is a former physiotherapist and went to Our Lady and Pope John RC High School in Corby. She grew up in Laxton.

She was a former East Northants councillor before being elected for the new NNC in 2001. She is the council’s executive member for adults, health and wellbeing.

At her selection meeting this afternoon were Corby MP Tom Pursglove and other members of North Northants Council’s executive as well as Mr Bone’s wife

There has been previous concern raised about the influence of the local MPs on the council with allegations of political interference.

A date for the by-election has not yet been set.

Labour’s candidate Gen Kitchen has been hitting the campaign trail hard during the past few weeks.

Following the selection, Ms Harrison released a statement which said she wanted to ‘help deliver for the people of Wellingborogh.’

She said “I am delighted to have been selected as the candidate for Wellingborough,” she said. “I cannot wait to get out campaigning to get my message across to everyone here.

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

“The by-election is about finding a local MP to focus on key issues here in Wellingborough and making sure local messages get across to Westminster.

“As the local candidate, I am best suited to deliver for the people of Wellingborough, having already done so on a local authority level.

“I will continue to work alongside North Northamptonshire Council as we focus to deliver for local people.

“As your MP I will embed myself into the heart of the community, talking and listening to people from Finedon to Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers to Rushden to Irchester, and everywhere in between.

“I will never forget that it is my job to represent Wellingborough and Rushden in Westminster, and not the other way round.”