Wellingborough and Kingswood: Counting under way in two key by-elections

The Wellingborough election is taking place in a politically fascinating area of the country at a politically fascinating time.

Wellingborough lies in the middle of the M1/A1 corridor. Home to a group of voters, who are sometimes referred to as “aspirational, middle England”: people who have worked hard to better themselves and their families, they probably own their own home, they may have moved out of London, or one of the large cities (where they may still work) for a better way of life.

These are typical “swing voters” who often reflect the political mood of the country. The area is full of constituencies, which swung to Labour in 1997, and then slowly move back to the Conservatives. Places like Kettering, Corby, Northampton and Milton Keynes.

Wellingborough is only 30 miles (48km) away from Mid Bedfordshire where Labour recently overturned a 24,600 Conservative majority. If they can do the same tonight, it will be seen as further evidence that aspirational England is on the move.

If the Conservatives can hold on, it will give them hope in a general election year.