Wales Posts Bad News For UK PM Johnson

In the Conservatives' first electoral test since Boris Johnson became prime minister for Britain, the governing party lost a special election early Friday, leaving it with a one-vote working majority in Parliament as Brexit looms.

The Conservatives lack an overall majority in the House of Commons, and rely on an alliance with 10 lawmakers from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party. The loss of the Brecon seat leaves the governing alliance with 320 of the 639 voting lawmakers — the bare minimum needed to carry votes.

The party was defeated for the seat of Brecon and Radnorshire in Wales by Jane Dodds of the opposition Liberal Democrats. Dodds won 43% of the vote, while Conservative Chris Davies, who was fighting to retain the seat after being convicted and fined for expenses fraud, got 39%.

The result is indicating hard times to come for Johnson's government in its forecasted bid to pass laws and win votes in Parliament, with Brexit scheduled to happen in less than three months.

Previously, Johnson vows leaving the European Union on Oct. 31, with or without a porce deal. But Parliament voted in the past against the non-deal porce, and is likely to try again in the fall to thwart Johnson's plans.

In her victory speech, Dodds urged the prime minister to "stop playing with the future of our communities and rule out a no-deal Brexit now.'"

According to AP, in the Brecon by-election, the Lib Dems made a pact with two other pro-EU parties, which did not run to give Dodds a better chance. The country's main opposition Labour Party, whose leadership is pided over Brexit, saw voters desert it and won just 5% of the votes.