Wakefield by-election: What happens now after MP Imran Ahmad Khan resignation after sex assault conviction

The ex-MP was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor last month, leading to his expulsion from the Conservative Party and his resignation as Wakefield MP.

Now, a by-election must be held to determine who will take the seat in Wakefield.

Below is everything you need to know about the upcoming by-election, and what happened to Imran Ahmad Khan after his conviction.

When will the by-election be held?

The election will be held on 23 June, with a total of 15 candidates now running for the coveted seat.

Here is a full list of the candidates running in the Wakefield by-election.

Why did Imran Ahmad Khan resign?

In a statement posted on Khan's social media, he said that he had decided to resign due to “long delays in the legal process” which have left his constituents “without visible parliamentary representation for a year.”

Khan is planning to appeal his conviction, adding: “I am now able to focus entirely on clearing my name. As I intend for this to be my only statement, I would like to apologise to my family and community for the humiliation this has caused them.

What was Khan found guilty of?

Khan, 48, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old at Southwark Crown Court on Monday 11 April.

Jurors heard he forced the teenager to drink gin and tonic before dragging him upstairs and carrying out the attack at a house in Staffordshire in January 2008.

Khan had gone to the boy's bed and "reached in and touched his legs, reaching for, or actually touching, his groin".

Will Imran Ahmed Khan go to jail?

The former Conservative MP was sentenced to 18 months in jail earlier this month.

Mr Justice Baker said that Khan should serve a total of 18 months, “half on custody, released on license for the remainder of the term, subject to recall should you commit a further offence”.

How long had Imran Khan held the seat in Wakefield?

Khan was the first Tory candidate to win in Wakefield since 1931, gaining the seat in the 2019 general election under Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Khan won Wakefield by 3,358 votes over Labour former frontbencher Mary Creagh, however it is suspected that this by-election may prove more of a challenge for the Conservatives.

After the recent Partygate fines and Sunak's non-dom scandal, the Conservatives face an uphill battle to keep a hold of the Wakefield seat now up for grabs.