Plaid Cymru decide not to stand in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election

Plaid Cymru have decided not to stand in the by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire on August 1.

They have asked supporters to vote for Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds instead. They told members that the decision had been made following a “long negotiation meetings between senior staff and officials from both our party and the Liberal Democrats”.

The Green Party has also that it won’t stand, meaning that there will be one ‘Remain’ candidate in the election.

Plaid Cymru Chair Alun Ffred Jones announced the decision by saying that stopping Brexit was the main aim, and that the best way to do so was to ensure that the Liberal Democrats won the seat.

“We all know the damage that any kind of Brexit would do to our nation,” he said.

“We can never consider allowing that to happen.

“That is the basis for this decision: doing the right thing – the principled thing – in the interests of the nation and of the Remain cause.”

Plaid Cymru won 1,299 votes, or 3.1%, in the seat in the 2017 election, but suspect the margin could be tight between the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and the Brexit Party.

The by-election will take place only days after a new Conservative leader – likely to be Boris Johnson – takes over from Theresa May.

The Liberal Democrats are current favourites to win the seat, with the Brexit Party in second place and the Conservatives in third.

Conservative Party candidate Chris Davies has been selected to fight the seat once again, despite his conviction for forging expense claims, which triggered the recall campaign and in turn forced the by-election.

Des Parkinson, a former police Chief Superintendent, will contest for the Brexit Party.