Local LibDem member George Goring outside party headquarters in Brecon on the morning after by-election victory.

Local Lib Dem member helps party to by-election success

Still on an upward trajectory after recent Euro-election success, the Liberal Democrats took a parliamentary seat off the Tories in last week’s by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire. Local party member George Goring was there to lend a hand. Nick Terdre reports.

Fresh from a sterling performance in the elections to the European Parliament in mid year, the staunchly remain Liberal Democrats carried their candidate Jane Dodds to by-election victory by a margin of 1,425 votes, overturning a previous Tory majority of more than 8,000.

The result reduces PM Boris Johnson’s majority in the House of Commons to just one, and, given the state of parliamentary arithmetic, brings the prospect of a general election closer.

“Dozens of Liberal Democrat local parties, from across the Home Nations, were represented in the by-election campaign,” the party says. Flying the flag for the Hastings & Rye Liberal Democrats was George Goring, one of the party’s key activists in Central St Leonards.

“It was fantastic to be here representing Hastings & Rye Lib Dems and seeing a national by-election operation up close,” Mr Goring said.

Thanks to Greens and Plaid Cymru

“We may not have reduced the Conservatives’ majority to just one without the help of the Greens and Plaid Cymru, so a big thank you to them. Overall the election was conducted in a good spirit and I also enjoyed stimulating conversations with activists from rival parties.”

The Greens and Plaid Cymru both declined to contest the seat in order to boost the pro-remain vote.

Nick Perry, the party’s local parliamentary candidate at the last three general elections, and a social worker like Ms Dodds, said:

“It is wonderful to have Jane elected. Not just because it is one more step towards stopping Brexit, but because social workers are attuned to the needs of our most disadvantaged citizens. I have no doubt that Jane will be a cracking MP.’

The local LibDems will now consider their plans for a possible general election in the autumn, not least choosing their candidate following Mr Perry’s decision not to stand again.

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