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Brecon and Radnorshire by-election: Lib Dems beat Conservatives | Brecon and Radnorshire by-election: Lib Dems beat Conservatives |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Liberal Democrats have won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, leaving new PM Boris Johnson with a Commons working majority of just one. | The Liberal Democrats have won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, leaving new PM Boris Johnson with a Commons working majority of just one. |
Jane Dodds overturned an 8,038 majority to beat incumbent Conservative Chris Davies by 1,425 votes. | Jane Dodds overturned an 8,038 majority to beat incumbent Conservative Chris Davies by 1,425 votes. |
Mr Davies decided to stand again after being unseated by a petition following his conviction for a false expenses claim. | Mr Davies decided to stand again after being unseated by a petition following his conviction for a false expenses claim. |
It was the first electoral test for Mr Johnson since becoming prime minister. | It was the first electoral test for Mr Johnson since becoming prime minister. |
Now, with a particularly wafer-thin working majority, he will have to rely heavily on the support of his own MPs and his confidence-and-supply partners the DUP to get any legislation passed in key votes. | Now, with a particularly wafer-thin working majority, he will have to rely heavily on the support of his own MPs and his confidence-and-supply partners the DUP to get any legislation passed in key votes. |
It was also a bad night for Labour, whose vote share dropped by 12.4% as they were beaten into fourth place by the Brexit Party. | It was also a bad night for Labour, whose vote share dropped by 12.4% as they were beaten into fourth place by the Brexit Party. |
Ms Dodds, who is the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, said: "My very first act as your new MP when I get to Westminster will be to find Mr Boris Johnson, wherever he's hiding, and tell him to stop playing with the future of our community and rule out a no deal Brexit". | Ms Dodds, who is the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, said: "My very first act as your new MP when I get to Westminster will be to find Mr Boris Johnson, wherever he's hiding, and tell him to stop playing with the future of our community and rule out a no deal Brexit". |
Mr Davies congratulated Ms Dodds saying "I wish her well for the future" and he paid tribute to his family saying they had "a difficult time over the past few months". | Mr Davies congratulated Ms Dodds saying "I wish her well for the future" and he paid tribute to his family saying they had "a difficult time over the past few months". |
The turnout was 59.6%, down from 74.6% at the general election, but it is the highest for a by-election since Winchester in 1997. | The turnout was 59.6%, down from 74.6% at the general election, but it is the highest for a by-election since Winchester in 1997. |
Both Plaid Cymru and the Greens did not field candidates, to try to maximise the Remain vote. | Both Plaid Cymru and the Greens did not field candidates, to try to maximise the Remain vote. |
Plaid leader Adam Price said the "spirit of co-operation" between the pro-Remain parties had led to Ms Dodds's election, as he called for a second referendum. | Plaid leader Adam Price said the "spirit of co-operation" between the pro-Remain parties had led to Ms Dodds's election, as he called for a second referendum. |
"But if the prime minister is intent on a general election, he should know that Plaid Cymru and the other pro-Remain parties are committed to cooperating so that we beat Brexit once and for all," he added. | "But if the prime minister is intent on a general election, he should know that Plaid Cymru and the other pro-Remain parties are committed to cooperating so that we beat Brexit once and for all," he added. |
Ms Dodds, 55, lives in the neighbouring constituency of Montgomeryshire and is a child-protection social worker. | Ms Dodds, 55, lives in the neighbouring constituency of Montgomeryshire and is a child-protection social worker. |
The Lib Dems regained the rural seat - which it had held for all but nine of the last 34 years and lost at the 2015 general election. | The Lib Dems regained the rural seat - which it had held for all but nine of the last 34 years and lost at the 2015 general election. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Jonathan Blake, BBC political correspondent | By Jonathan Blake, BBC political correspondent |
As the ballots were counted, the candidates looked on - neither the Tories or the Liberal Democrats dared to claim victory or concede defeat. | As the ballots were counted, the candidates looked on - neither the Tories or the Liberal Democrats dared to claim victory or concede defeat. |
One thing was certain, the result when it came would be close. | One thing was certain, the result when it came would be close. |
But a win is a win and the Lib Dems will shout this from the rooftops as proof they can cut through with an anti-Brexit message. | But a win is a win and the Lib Dems will shout this from the rooftops as proof they can cut through with an anti-Brexit message. |
The Remain alliance proved to be a winning formula, as Plaid Cymru and the Green Party stood aside to give the Lib Dems a clear run against the Tories. | The Remain alliance proved to be a winning formula, as Plaid Cymru and the Green Party stood aside to give the Lib Dems a clear run against the Tories. |
If the Brexit Party hadn't been standing, the Conservatives might have clinched it. | If the Brexit Party hadn't been standing, the Conservatives might have clinched it. |
Labour will look hard at their disastrous result and wonder what might have been with a clearer message on Brexit. | Labour will look hard at their disastrous result and wonder what might have been with a clearer message on Brexit. |
And for the Tories, the people of Brecon and Radnorshire have delivered an unwelcome verdict on their former MP and the new prime minister. | |
Boris Johnson's hands were already tied in parliament and the ropes around his wrists have just been pulled a little tighter. | Boris Johnson's hands were already tied in parliament and the ropes around his wrists have just been pulled a little tighter. |
Recently-elected Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said: "Boris Johnson's shrinking majority makes it clear that he has no mandate to crash us out of the EU." | Recently-elected Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said: "Boris Johnson's shrinking majority makes it clear that he has no mandate to crash us out of the EU." |
Labour, which at one stage feared it might lose its deposit, blamed voters switching tactically to the Lib Dems. | Labour, which at one stage feared it might lose its deposit, blamed voters switching tactically to the Lib Dems. |
A spokesman for Welsh Labour said: "We always knew this was going to be a difficult night for us, but we're proud of our positive campaign in Brecon and Radnorshire". | A spokesman for Welsh Labour said: "We always knew this was going to be a difficult night for us, but we're proud of our positive campaign in Brecon and Radnorshire". |
"One thing is clear - voters have rejected Boris Johnson and his divisive, out-of-touch UK Tory government." | "One thing is clear - voters have rejected Boris Johnson and his divisive, out-of-touch UK Tory government." |
Political analyst Prof Roger Awan-Scully, from Cardiff University, said: "Labour need to look very closely at this result. Everything points to not just tactical voting for the Lib Dems but also dissatisfaction with Jeremy Corbyn and [First Minister] Mark Drakeford". | Political analyst Prof Roger Awan-Scully, from Cardiff University, said: "Labour need to look very closely at this result. Everything points to not just tactical voting for the Lib Dems but also dissatisfaction with Jeremy Corbyn and [First Minister] Mark Drakeford". |
The Brexit Party's Des Parkinson, a retired police chief superintendent, who finished third, said: "If you look at the actual total of the vote, the Brexiteers won. | The Brexit Party's Des Parkinson, a retired police chief superintendent, who finished third, said: "If you look at the actual total of the vote, the Brexiteers won. |
"It shows where the votes are but the prime minister has to deliver a clear Brexit... if he doesn't, then his government is in dire trouble". | "It shows where the votes are but the prime minister has to deliver a clear Brexit... if he doesn't, then his government is in dire trouble". |
The Monster Raving Loony Party pushed the UKIP candidate into sixth place. | The Monster Raving Loony Party pushed the UKIP candidate into sixth place. |