Boris Johnson’s party suffers defeat in UK special election
LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s governing Conservative Party has a lost a special election, leaving it with a wafer-thin working majority in Parliament of just one vote.
Jane Dodds of the opposition Liberal Democrats won the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency in Wales with 43% of the vote. Conservative Chris Davies, who was fighting to retain the seat after being ejected for expenses fraud, got 39%.
The pro-EU Liberal Democrats have seen their support surge across Britain as Brexit looms.
The result, announced early Friday, makes it harder for Johnson’s government to pass laws and win votes, with Brexit less than three months away.
Johnson says Britain will leave the European Union on Oct. 31, with or without a divorce deal. But Parliament is likely to try to thwart his plans.
