After 18 years and five upheld allegations of bullying and sexual harassment, Peter Bone has finally been removed as the MP for Wellingborough.
Once these allegations came to light, Bone was suspended from Parliament, had the whip withdrawn by the Tory Party and, most interestingly, was subject to a recall petition called by his constituents.
This is only the fifth time this has happened since the power was introduced in 2015. In this petition, of a total electorate of 79,402 in Wellingborough, 10,505 voted to remove him.
It almost feels appropriate to rejoice as a lifelong resident – any good that comes from this removal is tempered by the knowledge of the harm this man has inflicted, in particular to his victims.
Embroiled in scandal
But Peter Bone has always been a corrosive representative for Wellingborough in all respects.
He has presided over a decaying town centre, an increasing homeless population, and shrinking employment opportunities. He has been embroiled in scandals relating to fraud and nepotism. He once even (unsuccessfully) lobbied to name the August bank holiday ‘Margaret Thatcher day’!
This deeply reactionary politician served under Liz Truss as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, and campaigned alongside Nigel Farage in the Leave means Leave campaign.
Everywhere calamitous and slimy politicians go, it seems Peter Bone follows.
Change on the horizon?
Of course, despite everything, Wellingborough hasn’t just suffered because of this one man.
In the impending by-election, there will be representatives from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Reform UK. The Tories are yet to put forward a candidate, and it is not yet known if Peter Bone will stand as an independent.
The big question facing residents is will anything really change with a new MP? In short, no.
Labour has the next largest majority within the town. But under Starmer, Labour policy only serves the interests of the ruling class.
For example, the Labour leadership has shown itself as unwilling to side with the oppressed people of Palestine; intent on continuing austerity; and just as authoritarian as the Tories on crime, immigration, strikes, and protests.
So long as capitalism is left intact, there will be no real change for us in Wellingborough, regardless of who takes Peter Bone’s place.
A communist solution
It’s easy to despair in a situation like this. Our decaying institutions are tied up by bloated bureaucracy, and our political representatives are lacking at best and actively dangerous at worst.
In Wellingborough, the malaise and anger that permeates the town seem to be a permanent fixture. Capitalism has nothing left to offer the working people and the disenfranchised here; there is no vote we can cast that will protect us.
The key to a better future in Wellingborough – and everywhere – is to kick out all these corrupt and rotten capitalist politicians. People like Peter Bone are features of the system, not bugs.
And if we wish never to see their like again, a communist solution is required.
This is why we are building the forces of communism in Wellingborough, a true alternative to the politics of the ruling class.
