UK govt majority cut to one as LibDems win Brecon by-election
The UK government's majority was cut to one after the Liberal Democrat party won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election on Thursday.
Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds won 13,826 votes, with the ruling Conservatives in second place on 12,401 in a result that overturned the Tories’ previous majority of more than 8,000.
Labour had a disastrous night, coming fourth with a paltry 1,680 votes behind the right-wing Brexit Party on 3,331.
The election was forced by voters after the sitting MP, Conservative Chris Davies, was involved in an expenses scandal. The Tories chose to re-select him for the by-election.
Dodds won on a pro-EU anti-Brexit campaign. On Friday she said: “We want to stay in Europe. We see that as healthy for our communities. We have to stay in Europe and we have to stay in this bigger team.”
In a week where new Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been to Wales for talks and been reminded of the impact of a no-deal Brexit on farmers, Dodds said the impending departure date of October 31 came at a key point in the rural calendar.
“October, November and December are peak times to sell Welsh lamb. There are two issues for farmers – firstly, how are they going to cope with 40% tariffs on their lamb exports. The second is mental health. Farming is the profession with the highest suicide rate. These are real concerns,” she said.
Welsh politicians and farmers have said they may have to mass cull lambs if the UK left the EU without a deal as tariffs would make exports uncompetitive.
On his visit Johnson failed to provide any details of how he would help farmers.
“We have interventions that are aimed to support them and their incomes. As you know, Defra, the [agriculture] ministry, has done a huge amount already to prepare in advance to 29 March, and will do even more to prepare in the run-up to 31 October, when we come out.”
National Farmers Union president Minette Batters said a no-deal Brexit would wipe out 40% of the market for UK lamb meat.
“You would be in oversupply because you wouldn’t be able to get over the barrier of a tariff to Europe,” she said.