Rishi Sunak faces a triple by-election trap set by Boris Johnson

Three Commons vacancies are looming that the prime minister could do without, says Sean O'Grady

Boris Johnson is still causing headaches for his (latest) successor (PA)

Rishi Sunak faces three by-elections if MPs nominated for peerages by Boris Johnson leave the House of Commons. The prospective contests could hardly have worse timing from the government’s point of view, after a disastrous set of local elections and a Labour lead over the Conservatives in the opinion polls usually into double figures.

What’s up for grabs?

Seats in the House of Lords for three MPs particularly close to Mr Johnson: Nadine Dorries, Nigel Adams and Alok Sharma, who’ve been waiting for their elevation since Johnson quit last year, but his resignation honours have been delayed (apparently some nominations are especially problematic). If they do move to the Lords, they will create vacancies in Mid Bedfordshire, Selby and Ainsty (in North Yorkshire) and Reading West.