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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 Conservatives have lost a closely-fought Brecon and Radnorshire parliamentary by-election. | The Conservatives have lost a closely-fought Brecon and Radnorshire parliamentary by-election. |
Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds overturned an 8,038 majority to beat Chris Davies by 1,425 votes. | Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds overturned an 8,038 majority to beat Chris Davies by 1,425 votes. |
Mr Davies stood again after being unseated by a petition that followed his conviction for a false expenses claim. | Mr Davies stood again after being unseated by a petition that followed his conviction for a false expenses claim. |
Labour were beaten into the fourth place by The Brexit Party. | Labour were beaten into the fourth place by The Brexit Party. |
It was the first electoral test for new prime minister Boris Johnson. | It was the first electoral test for new prime minister Boris Johnson. |
Ms Dodds, who is Welsh Lib Dem 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 Welsh Lib Dem 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". |
It leaves the government's working majority cut to just one, including its confidence and supply partners. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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." | |
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. | |
"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. |