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| Brecon and Radnorshire by-election: Lib Dems beat Conservatives | Brecon and Radnorshire by-election: Lib Dems beat Conservatives |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, leaving new PM Boris Johnson with a working majority in Parliament of one. | The Liberal Democrats have won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, leaving new PM Boris Johnson with a working majority in Parliament of one. |
| Jane Dodds overturned an 8,038 majority to beat Conservative Chris Davies by 1,425 votes. | Jane Dodds overturned an 8,038 majority to beat Conservative Chris Davies by 1,425 votes. |
| Mr Davies stood again after being unseated by a petition following his conviction for a false expenses claim. | Mr Davies stood again after being unseated by a petition following his conviction for a false expenses claim. |
| It was the first electoral test for Mr Johnson just eight days after becoming prime minister. | It was the first electoral test for Mr Johnson just eight days after becoming prime minister. |
| It was also the quickest by-election defeat for any new prime minister since World War Two. | It was also the quickest by-election defeat for any new prime minister since World War Two. |
| Now, with the thinnest 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 the thinnest 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 a bad night for Labour, whose vote share dropped by 12.4% as it was beaten into fourth place by the Brexit Party. | It was a bad night for Labour, whose vote share dropped by 12.4% as it was beaten into fourth place by the Brexit Party. |
| The result means the Lib Dems now have 13 MPs. | The result means the Lib Dems now have 13 MPs. |
| 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 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 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. |
| Neither Plaid Cymru nor the Greens fielded candidates, to try to maximise the Remain vote. | Neither Plaid Cymru nor the Greens fielded candidates, to try to maximise the Remain vote. |
| Tory party chairman James Cleverly told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a "very close result in a by-election in which the Lib Dems were expected to romp home comfortably". | Tory party chairman James Cleverly told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a "very close result in a by-election in which the Lib Dems were expected to romp home comfortably". |
| In a message to Conservative MPs concerned about the government's Brexit policy he said the new prime minister had received a "clear mandate from parliamentarians" and an "even more thumping victory in the leadership election". | In a message to Conservative MPs concerned about the government's Brexit policy he said the new prime minister had received a "clear mandate from parliamentarians" and an "even more thumping victory in the leadership election". |
| "I do think it's incumbent on all Conservatives to support the prime minister in what has been a long-standing Conservative policy," he said. | "I do think it's incumbent on all Conservatives to support the prime minister in what has been a long-standing Conservative policy," he said. |
| But recently-elected Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: "Boris Johnson's shrinking majority makes it clear that he has no mandate to crash us out of the EU." | But recently-elected Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: "Boris Johnson's shrinking majority makes it clear that he has no mandate to crash us out of the EU." |
| She denied the party had "played" the system by striking a deal with Plaid Cymru and the Greens. | She denied the party had "played" the system by striking a deal with Plaid Cymru and the Greens. |
| "I want to have a different voting system but we're working within the system that we have," she said. | "I want to have a different voting system but we're working within the system that we have," she said. |
| Celebrating victory later on Friday morning with party activists, Ms Swinson said the Lib Dems were "winning again" and she would "fight to keep our country in the European Union". | Celebrating victory later on Friday morning with party activists, Ms Swinson said the Lib Dems were "winning again" and she would "fight to keep our country in the European Union". |
| Ms Dodds, 55, lives in the neighbouring mid Wales constituency of Montgomeryshire and is a child-protection social worker. | Ms Dodds, 55, lives in the neighbouring mid Wales constituency of Montgomeryshire and is a child-protection social worker. |
| The Lib Dems have held the rural seat for all but nine of the last 34 years and lost at the 2015 general election. | The Lib Dems have held the rural seat for all but nine of the last 34 years and lost at the 2015 general election. |
| Plaid Cymru 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 another EU referendum. | Plaid Cymru 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 another EU 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 said. | "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 said. |
| Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said its decision to withdraw from the by-election was "absolutely vindicated" by the result. | Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said its decision to withdraw from the by-election was "absolutely vindicated" by the result. |
| "The people of Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the opportunity to cut Boris Johnson's majority in Westminster to a highly unstable one, reducing further the risk of a disastrous crash-out Brexit," he said. | "The people of Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the opportunity to cut Boris Johnson's majority in Westminster to a highly unstable one, reducing further the risk of a disastrous crash-out Brexit," he said. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called the result "disappointing". | |
| He added: "The Liberal Democrats won it after doing a deal with Plaid Cymru and the Greens. | |
| "I think that a lot of voters were determined to get rid of the Conservative, and they voted accordingly. So we were squeezed, but it's a place we have not held for a very long time. The area has changed a bit." | |
| Prof Laura McAllister, from Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre, said the result should not be read as a "resounding victory" for Remain. | Prof Laura McAllister, from Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre, said the result should not be read as a "resounding victory" for Remain. |
| She pointed out that the three Brexit-supporting parties had 2-3,000 votes more than the Remain alliance. | She pointed out that the three Brexit-supporting parties had 2-3,000 votes more than the Remain alliance. |
| But she added: "There are always nuanced undercurrents to this. The reality is Brexit isn't the only issue people were voting on. | But she added: "There are always nuanced undercurrents to this. The reality is Brexit isn't the only issue people were voting on. |
| "People were probably voting on rural and local issues. We can never categorically say this was about Brexit." | "People were probably voting on rural and local issues. We can never categorically say this was about Brexit." |
| Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said the Conservatives were enjoying a "Boris bounce" and the result was encouraging for the party despite the loss. | Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said the Conservatives were enjoying a "Boris bounce" and the result was encouraging for the party despite the loss. |
| But he added: "In an early general election, at the moment at least, the Conservatives would be at risk of losing." | But he added: "In an early general election, at the moment at least, the Conservatives would be at risk of losing." |
| He said the Lib Dems could pick up 40 or 50 seats, which would make winning a large overall majority "rather more difficult for the Conservatives". | He said the Lib Dems could pick up 40 or 50 seats, which would make winning a large overall majority "rather more difficult for the Conservatives". |
| 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 nor the Liberal Democrats dared to claim victory or concede defeat. | As the ballots were counted, the candidates looked on - neither the Tories nor 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 its disastrous result and wonder what might have been with a clearer message on Brexit. | Labour will look hard at its 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. | 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. |
| At one stage Labour feared it might lose its deposit and blamed voters switching tactically to the Lib Dems. | At one stage Labour feared it might lose its deposit and blamed voters switching tactically to the Lib Dems. |
| A Welsh Labour spokesman 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 Welsh Labour spokesman 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. |