Andrew Bridgen has resisted calls for a by-election after announcing his defection to the Reclaim Party. The former Conservative MP said he expected a general election within 12 months and did not want to put his constituents through two trips to the polling station in a year. Speaking at an event in Westminster to announce his defection to Reclaim, the party led by actor Laurence Fox, Mr Bridgen said: “I wouldn’t want to put my constituents through the rigours of having two general elections in 12 months. They don’t tend to like it very much.” The North West Leicestershire MP...