Brecon by-election reaction: Brexit Party could damage Tory vote in face of Remain alliance
The Liberal Democrat victory in yesterday’s Brecon and Radnorshire by-election has raised the spectre of an alliance of Remain-supporting parties and highlighted the threat the Brexit party poses to the Conservatives.
Remain-supporting parties Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreed not to field candidates yesterday to avoid splitting the pro-European vote.
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Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds beat Eurosceptic Conservative incumbent Chris Davies by 1,425 votes, with The Brexit Party receiving 3,331 votes, splitting the pro-Brexit vote.
Conservative Party chair James Cleverly told LBC this morning it was frustrating that pro-Brexit voters had allowed the Lib Dems to win the seat.
“My big frustration is that those people who voted for the Brexit Party in the hope of clearly getting Brexit delivered have now got a Lib Dem MP who’s going to do everything she can to stop Brexit from happening.”
Pro-Brexit commentator Julia Hartley-Brewer said the lesson from the election was that new Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs to deliver Brexit by 31 October.
“If Boris doesn’t deliver Brexit on 31 October, the Leave vote will be split Tory/Brexit party & Remain wins. The Brexit Party doesn’t have to win seats – but it can ensure that Tory MPs will be wiped out. Lesson learned, I hope,” she tweeted.
New Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson tweeted this morning: “I will do whatever it takes to stop Brexit & offer an alternative, positive vision for a richer, greener and safer future.”
She also thanked Plaid Cymru and the Greens for “putting the national interest first and not contesting this by-election”.
Former Labour spin doctor and arch-Remainer Alastair Campbell said the by-election pointed the way towards a Remain alliance to see off Brexit.
“Well done Remain Alliance,” he said.
“The Lib Dems get the win but Brecon is something bigger than that – shows that when people put country before party, as Plaid Cymru and the Green Party did, real change can come. The no deal poundshop Trump is further weakened and devalued today.”
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Labour’s vote share fell 12.4 per cent on its previous performance.
A Labour spokesperson 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 Tory government.
“We are ready for a general election where voters can choose a government that would invest in local services and local people, not Boris Johnson’s divisive government on the side of the richest or a party led by Jo Swinson, a leader who supported tax cuts for the rich and austerity.”