Brecon and Radnor by-election

I'm glad to see the Lib Dems won.

I had a moment of terror yesterday thinking that the Conservatives might cling on, due to a combination of Johnson's elevation to the premiership, the apparent uselessness of the Lib Dem candidate (who had failed to be elected in other constituencies) and the fading of the Brexit Party.

But ...

• with the explicit support of the Greens and PC,
• with the tacit support of Labour,
• with the advantage of facing a candidate who had been recalled - by his own constituents - for corruption,
• a candidate, no less, who represented one of the most disliked governments in recent memory,
• a government, you'll recall, that had nailed its colours to decisively to the Brexit-or-Death mast,
• and with the Leave vote split between the Conservatives and the Brexit Party,
• and fighting a by-election in an area they have traditionally done well in,
• and with an experienced local candidate to represent them,

... shouldn't they have done a bit better?

(A bit of payback for all those deriding Labour for not doing better because yadahyadahyahdah.)

As for new Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson's proclamation that her party will not support a Labour Government - it is a bizarre move if they then expect Labour to co-operate and help them win target seats from the Tories.

Unless, of course, you view the Lib Dems as part of the 'Centrist' war against Corbyn. Then it makes perfect sense.

They'd rather see another Conservative government than offer any succor to the Labour Left.

Even when they aren't in coalition, they are still helping the Tories.

In other news, the latest Com Res poll brings grim tidings for the Lib Dems:

LAB: 30% (+3)
CON: 29% (+1)
LDEM: 16% (-3)
BREX: 15% (-1)
GRN: 5% (+1)

via @ComRes, 26 - 28 Jul
Chgs. w/ 25 Jul

After the giddy thrills of the local and Euro elections the the Lib-Dem and Brexit surge is receding and both main parties are gradually recovering to the semi-respectable terrain of the low to mid 30s.

Sadly, Lib Dems, the party is over. It was a good one, but you've got nothing to show for it other than a splitting head ache, a foul taste in your mouth and the vague memory of attempting to do a strip-tease, only to fall over as you tried to remove your trousers. You've woken up in a stranger's bed and it is time for you all to be sensible and pretend that none of this ever happened.