Tory candidate Helen Hurford expects Thursday's poll in Tiverton and Honiton to be "very, very close" but she is fighting to keep the Devon constituency blue.
The loss of the seat, won in 2019 with a 24,239 majority, to the Lib Dems would horrify Tories and intensify efforts to remove the PM.
But a win could transform his current standing.
The poll was triggered when MP Neil Parish resigned after watching pornography in the Commons.
Conservatives are also defending Wakefield, West Yorks, where they have a majority of just 3,358 and Labour are the main challengers.
Wakefield's former MP, Imran Ahmad Khan, was jailed for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Mr Johnson was bruised earlier this month when 148 Conservative MPs voted against him in a confidence motion and his character is once again in the spotlight following the resignation of his ethics adviser Lord Geidt.
This story is from the June 19, 2022 edition of Sunday Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 19, 2022 edition of Sunday Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
RUUD DESPAIR AT United EXIT
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY has been left devastated by his Manchester United departure.
Shock rise in dental patients going to A&E
SOARING numbers of people who have trouble with their teeth are turning up at A&E departments amid rising concern about lack of access to NHS dentists.
3D modelling revolution for facial surgery
THOUSANDS of people needing facial reconstructions after being injured in car crashes or falls are set to benefit from pioneering 3D modelling.
Acid attack paedophile jailed for 30 years in U.S.
A VIOLENT criminal who put two police officers in hospital after dousing them with acid has been jailed for 30 years for a sex attack on a nine-year-old boy in the US.
Bruce wife: Daddy's not going to get any better
Christmas heartache of star's family
Richard on target for new Citadel filming
ACTOR Richard Madden has been spotted filming the second series of high-octane spy drama Citadel, writes Jaymi McCann.
Kemi: Hate crime laws are wasting police time
HATE-CRIME laws must be reviewed to stop people \"wasting police time on trivial incidents\", says Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Trump ready to get tough on Iran...again
DONALD Trump's Cabinet choices have led Iran opposition groups and experts to believe regime change is now inevitable for the Islamic nation.
"There was a high degree of trust without the checks'
A PROMINENT MP who attended at least one Christian camp at which John Smyth groomed his abuse victims says confidence in the Church of England has \"collapsed at every level\".
Fans unleash Tyson fury as boxing legend turns into 'human punch bag'
BOXING great \"Iron\" Mike Tyson was booed out of the ring after being easily beaten in his comeback showdown with YouTube fighter Jake Paul, writes Mike Parker.
