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New Liberal Democrat MP Jane Dodds has delivered the first major defeat of Boris Johnson's premiership in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.

The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader's victory in the mid-Wales constituency cut the new Prime Minister 's working majority to just one.

The result is seen by some as further reducing Boris Johnson's mandate for a no-deal Brexit and as a sign of the electorate's concern towards his recent pledge to leave the EU without a deal if necessary.

The loss leaves the PM with the support of 319 MPs, including the DUP which props up his majority, while opposition parties now have 318.

(Image: PA)

A name unfamiliar to those outside Welsh politics, Jane Dodds is a qualified child protection social worker who was elected Welsh party leader two years ago.

Born and raised in a Welsh-speaking family in Wrexham , the Cardiff University graduate lives in Powys with her husband Patrick.

She said her parents "taught me the value of public service from the day I was born", and added that she was "passionate about tackling injustice".

Her victory came after she ran on a platform of "opposing Conservative cuts, protecting vital rural services, and standing up for Welsh farmers and local jobs".

As the Lib Dem candidate for Montgomeryshire in the 2015 and 2017 general elections, she twice lost to Conservative Glyn Davies.

Between 2006 and 2010, Ms Dodds served as a councillor in the North Richmond ward of Richmond upon Thames in London.

Referring to her parents and upbringing on her website, Ms Dodds said: "They drove me to work hard and get the best education I could. I graduated from Cardiff University then trained to become a social worker.

"For the last 27 years, I've been working to protect vulnerable children at home and abroad.

"Now I'm running to be Brecon and Radnorshire's new MP because I believe we deserve better from our politicians and the Westminster Government.

"I want to stand up for everyone in our community that feels let down by those in power."

The Liberal Democrats won the mid-Wales constituency by a margin of 1,425, swinging the vote nearly 12% from the Tories.

(Image: PA)

The Tory loss will add to the PM's challenges to steer Brexit through Parliament and may increase the chances of a snap general election.

With the vote coming eight days after Mr Johnson was anointed, it is the quickest by-election defeat for any PM of the post-war period.

The vote may also be seen as an early victory for the "Remain alliance" of anti-Brexit parties, with Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreeing not to field candidates in order not to split the pro-EU vote.

Ms Dodds thanked those two parties for their "courageous decision".

Plaid Cymru 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.