Credit;PA
Boris Johnson faces his first electoral test today as voters go to the polls for the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.
The mid-Wales constituency has traditionally been a toss-up between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
If the Conservatives fail to retain the seat, Mr Johnson’s already slim Commons working majority will be cut to just one.
The by-election was called following the sacking of Tory MP Chris Davies last month following a recall petition.
He was found guilty of submitting a false expenses claim and was later chosen to fight to reclaim his seat by his local party.
The Lib Dems are the bookies’ favourites and, if she wins, party candidate Jane Dodds would bring the party’s total number of MPs to 13.
Conservative candidate Mr Davies said his party has run a “clean and positive” campaign, adding: “Sadly, a few of our competitors have led a dirty campaign.”
Ms Dodds said people in Brecon and Radnorshire “have had enough of being forgotten by Westminster. They deserve better”.
Tory grandees including new Prime Minister Mr Johnson, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove have all visited the constituency in recent weeks.
The new Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has visited the constituency in recent days and her leadership rival Ed Davey is expected in the constituency on polling day.
Ms Dodds said her priorities are to stand up for Welsh farmers and oppose Tory cuts.
She added: “This by-election is, therefore, a choice between change with the Liberal Democrats or the same old broken politics with the Tories.”
On his visit to Wales on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: “A vote for any party other than Conservatives pushes the Liberal Democrats one step closer to cancelling the referendum result.”
Despite Mr Johnson calling for voters to back the Tories to deliver Brexit, Mr Davies said this was a local campaign.
He said: “Having come from here, having went to school here, I am a local campaigner running a local campaign.”
Mr Davies said the impact of Mr Johnson has been strong on the doorstep.
He added: “Boris seems to be very popular. I’ve not heard one person mention Jo Swinson.”
In terms of the impact of the Brexit Party, Mr Davies said he expects they will “probably take a few votes” from the Tories, but will probably have a greater impact on the Labour vote.
The recall petition was triggered after Mr Davies was convicted in March after he admitted submitting two false expenses invoices for nine photographs costing £700 to decorate his new office.
He was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.
Mr Davies was later selected again by the Conservative Party to fight for the parliamentary seat he lost after more than 10,000 constituents signed a petition to remove him.
The Lib Dems could benefit from a “Remain alliance” forged in the constituency, with Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreeing not to field candidates in the by-election.
Mr Davies has represented the seat for the Conservatives since 2015. His majority at the 2017 general election was 8,038.
The share of the vote in Brecon & Radnorshire at the 2017 general election was Conservatives 49 per cent, Liberal Democrats 29 per cent, Labour 18 per cent, Plaid Cymru 3 per cent and Ukip 1 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats held the constituency from 1997 to 2015. They would need a swing of 9.8% to retake the seat.
A Lib Dem victory could rejig the parliamentary arithmetic, making it harder for the new Prime Minister to get his Brexit plans through the Commons.
There are currently 320 MPs who – on paper – would back the Government in a crunch vote in the House of Commons – 310 Tories and 10 members of the DUP.
The DUP agreed to support the Conservatives in certain key votes, such as confidence motions and Budgets, as part of a deal reached in the aftermath of the 2017 general election.
The seat of Brecon and Radnorshire is currently vacant, so whoever wins the by-election will increase by one either the Government’s tally of MPs or those of the opposition.
If the Lib Dems win the seat, and, were they to do so, the opposition tally would increase from 318 to 319.
With the Tories and DUP unchanged on a combined total of 320, this would reduce the Government’s majority from two to one.
Polls open at 7am and are will close at 10am. The result of the by-election is expected at around 3am on Friday August 2.
The six candidates standing in the by-election are: Chris Davies (Conservative), Tom Davies (Labour), Jane Dodds (Liberal Democrats), Des Parkinson (Brexit), Liz Phillips (Ukip), Lady Lily The Pink (Loony).
