A crucial by-election loss has dealt a major blow to the UK's new Prime Minsiter Boris Johnson and reduced the Tory majority in Parliament to just one.

Liberal Democrat candidate Jane Dodds beat the Conservative Party in the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection, the first test of what the British public actually thinks of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the possibility of crashing out of the European Union later this year with a no-deal Brexit.

"My very first act as your MP when I arrive in Westminster will be to find Boris Johnson, wherever he’s hiding, and tell him loud and clear: stop playing with the futures of our communities and rule out a no-deal Brexit," said Ms. Dodds.

The Lib Dems had cast itself as the anti-Brexit Party, and leader Jo Swinson thanked Plaid Cymru and the Green Party for not contesting this byelection so as to avoid splitting the remain vote.

"Boris Johnson’s shrinking majority makes it clear that he has no mandate to crash us out of the EU," said Ms. Swinson.  "As leader of the Liberal Democrats, I will do whatever it takes to stop Brexit and offer an alternative, positive vision for a richer, greener and safer future.  Britain demands better than what the tired old parties can give."