A Tory MP convicted over fake expense claims has been unseated by a petition triggering a by-election.

Chris Davies politician was ousted after nearly a fifth of registered voters in his Brecon and Radnorshire constituency signed a petition to oust him.

The 51-year-old was convicted for faking expenses claims after submitting two false expenses invoices for landscape photographs to decorate his new office.

Some 10,005 signatures were secured, well above the 10% threshold - 5,303 - needed for a recall.

He has been MP for the Welsh seat since the 2015 general election, where he beat incumbent Liberal Democrat Roger Williams with the constituency's largest majority since 1983.

In 2017, he held a majority of more than 8,000 in a constituency where just over 41,000 people voted.

But in April he was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service after admitting submitting two false expenses invoices.

The recall petition opened on 9 May and Mr Davies's constituents had six weeks to sign it before it closed on 20 June.

A spokesman for Welsh Labour said: "The recall result is another huge blow to Chris Davies' credibility to serve as member of parliament. This is a mess all of his making.

"The Conservatives must not drag their feet. They should listen to the wishes of the voters of Brecon and Radnorshire, call an immediate by-election and let the people hold them to account."

The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds, who will stand for the party in the by-election, said: "Thousands of residents across Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the chance to demand better than a Westminster politics that fails to take their concerns seriously.

"Now we have a golden opportunity to do things differently. The clear choice in this by-election is between the Conservatives, whose chaos and infighting is letting our communities down, and a better future for our area with the Welsh Lib Dems." </s> Conservative MP Chris Davies has lost his seat in the House of Commons after 19% of registered voters in his constituency signed a petition to remove him.

Mr Davies, 51, was convicted for faking expenses claims after submitting two false expenses invoices for landscape photographs to decorate his new office.

Some 10,005 people signed the petition, well above the 10% threshold – 5,303 people – needed for a recall.

The result, confirmed by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, means a by-election will be called for the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency which Mr Davies could stand in.

He has been MP for Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2015 general election, where he beat incumbent Liberal Democrat Roger Williams with the constituency’s largest majority since 1983.

In 2017, he held a majority of more than 8,000 in a constituency where just over 41,000 people voted.

But in April he was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service after admitting submitting two false expenses invoices.

The recall petition opened on May 9 and Mr Davies’s constituents had six weeks to sign it before it closed at 5pm on June 20. </s> A petition to recall Conservative MP Chris Davies has secured enough signatures to force a by-election.

More than 10% of registered voters in his Brecon and Radnorshire constituency demanded he be sacked.

This has now forced a by-election, although he can stand again for re-election.

Mr Davies, 51, was convicted of faking expenses claims after he admitted to submitting two false expenses invoices for landscape photographs to decorate his new office in 2015.

He was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

The recall petition opened on May 9 and closed last night.

The results were announced early on Thursday morning.

Recall petitions are launched when MPs receive a custodial sentence, including suspended sentences, are barred from the Commons for 10 sitting days or are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

Peterborough’s former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya became the first MP to be unseated from the Commons in a recall petition in May after she was jailed for perverting the course of justice.

This story is breaking and will be updated. </s> A petition which could unseat convicted MP Chris Davies will close to voters in his constituency on Thursday.

Mr Davies, 51, will face a by-election if 10% of the electorate in the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency sign the petition.

The Conservative MP was convicted for faking expenses claims after he admitted to submitting two false expenses invoices for landscape photographs to decorate his new office in 2015.

He was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

The recall petition opened on May 9 and Mr Davies’ constituents have had six weeks to sign it before it closes at 5pm on June 20.

If 10% of constituents sign – around 5,600 people – he will be forced out of his seat and a by-election will be called, in which he will be allowed to stand for re-election.

The verification of the petition and count will take place at 10am on Friday at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells, Powys.

The Petition Officer will notify House of Commons Speaker John Bercow of the outcome before the result is made public.

Recall petitions are launched when MPs receive a custodial sentence, including suspended sentences, are barred from the Commons for 10 sitting days or are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

Peterborough’s former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya became the first MP to be unseated from the Commons in a recall petition in May after she was jailed for perverting the course of justice. </s> Image copyright Conservative Party Image caption Chris Davies was first elected in 2015

A by-election will be held in Brecon and Radnorshire after 10,005 people signed a petition to remove the constituency's Tory MP, Chris Davies.

Mr Davies was convicted of a false expenses claim in March.

A total of 19% of the constituency's electorate signed the petition, almost double the 10% threshold to trigger a by-election.

Confirming his intention to stand again, Mr Davies said he "looked forward to regaining" voters' trust.

"I am naturally disappointed with the result," he said.

"What happened was my fault and no-one else's."

Mr Davies is the third MP to have faced a recall petition and the second to be unseated through the process.

Members of the local Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative association are expected to meet during the next week to discuss whether Mr Davies will be their candidate.

Tory leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt said: "Whatever the rights and wrongs of his expenses claim, I have only ever known Chris Davies as a decent and honest man and a very diligent local MP."

The recall petition was triggered after Mr Davies's conviction for an offence relating to how photographs for his constituency office were invoiced.

Image caption The result was posted on a noticeboard in the constituency on Friday

Mr Davies had tried to split the cost of £700 worth of pictures between two office budgets by creating fake invoices, when he could have claimed the amount by other means.

He was fined £1,500 in April and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

"I sincerely apologise to all the people of Brecon and Radnorshire - and now it is absolutely right that they have their say," Mr Davies said.

He told BBC Wales he had "no indication" the party would stop him from standing and claimed the two Tory leadership candidates, who he spoke to on the phone on Friday, had been "very supportive" of him.

Asked if there was any question in their minds as to whether he should represent the party at the by-election, Mr Davies said: "None at all."

Mr Davies has been MP for Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2015 general election, when he beat incumbent Liberal Democrat Roger Williams with a majority of 5,102.

In the 2017 snap election Chris Davies's majority rose to 8,038.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour have already selected candidates for the by-election, while the Brexit Party will also be taking part.

Liberal Democrat prospective candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire, and the party's Welsh leader, Jane Dodds said: "Thousands of residents across Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the chance to demand better than a Westminster politics that fails to take their concerns seriously."

A spokesman for Welsh Labour, which has selected Brecon town councillor Tom Davies, said: "The recall result is another huge blow to Chris Davies' credibility to serve as member of Parliament. This is a mess all of his making."

He said the Tories "must not drag their feet" and call "an immediate by-election".

Brecon and Radnorshire is within the county of Powys, where the Brexit Party came top in May's European Parliament elections.

The Brexit Party's chairman Richard Tice said: "The sheer scale of the vote to force a recall and a by-election shows how strongly the level of dissatisfaction with politics in the country is rising up the agenda."

Recall petitions are launched when MPs receive a custodial or suspended sentence, are barred from the Commons for 10 sitting days or are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

What happens next?

It will be for the Conservatives to kick-start the next stage of the process - known as "moving the writ" - by making a request to the House of Commons Speaker. This usually happens within three months of a vacancy arising.

Once MPs have agreed the writ is issued to the constituency's returning officer.

The by-election is then held within 21 to 27 days from the issuing of the writ.

It means a new Conservative PM is likely to be in place shortly before the by-election.

Image caption The Brecon and Radnorshire constituency includes Builth Wells

Welsh politics expert Roger Scully said that the fact that nearly 20% of the constituency had signed the petition meant it was "very unlikely" Mr Davies would be the Conservative candidate.

"He would be standing clearly in the face of considerable public hostility in his own constituency," the Cardiff University professor said.

"If they put resources into it it should be a very winnable by-election for the Liberal Democrats and perhaps their first real bit of good news in Wales for some years."

It is unclear if Plaid Cymru will be fielding a candidate, and a spokesman on Friday suggested it may be open to a pact with other parties in favour of a further EU referendum.

"In last month's European elections many voters broke the habit of a lifetime by choosing to back pro-People's Vote parties, rather than the Conservatives or Labour," the spokesman said.

"Ensuring those of us who want to see a fresh referendum work together, at every possible level, to deliver this aim is crucial. We will explore options for how we can work together, across party lines, to deliver this in the upcoming Brecon and Radnorshire by-election."

The current state of parties in Parliament Number of MPs with each group in the House of Commons

Analysis by Felicity Evans, BBC Wales political editor

This is a big deal, with implications way beyond the constituency boundaries of Brecon and Radnorshire.

When the Conservative Party elects our new prime minister at the end of July, we know he will face the same arithmetic Theresa May did when she tried to steer a Brexit course through the House of Commons - no majority and very little wiggle room.

The victor will not want his honeymoon bubble punctured immediately by a difficult by-election and possible defeat.

Traditionally this is fertile ground for the Liberal Democrats. Jane Dodds will want to prove her party's resurgence in recent elections can continue here.

But off the back of their strong showing in the European Parliament elections, will the Brexit Party be able to push through, having failed to do so in the Peterborough by-election?

And, after Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price's musing on possible electoral pacts with other anti-Brexit parties, will he offer a deal to try to maximise the chances of a pro-referendum MP getting elected?

The Conservative Party now faces a tricky strategic decision over candidate selection, before heading into an even more tricky by-election campaign. </s> A petition to recall Conservative MP Chris Davies has secured the signatures of more than 10% of registered voters in his Brecon and Radnorshire constituency, forcing a by-election for the seat in which he could stand. </s> A by-election will be held in Brecon and Radnorshire after 10,005 people signed a petition to remove the constituency's Conservative MP, Chris Davies.

Mr Davies had been convicted of a false expenses claim in March.

A total of 5,303 names were needed to trigger a fresh poll.

Mr Davies is the third MP to face a recall petition and the second to be unseated through the process, following Fiona Onasanya in Peterborough.

Recall petitions are launched for a number of reasons including when MPs are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

Mr Davies' conviction related to when he was setting up his constituency office following the 2015 general election.

He had tried to split the cost of £700 worth of photographs between two office budgets by creating fake invoices, when he could have claimed the amount by other means.

The politician had made an "unreserved apology" following his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court in April, when he was fined £1,500 and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

Mr Davies has been MP for Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2015 general election, where he beat incumbent Liberal Democrat Roger Williams with the constituency's largest majority since 1983.

The constituency is within the county of Powys, where the Brexit party came top in May's European Parliament elections.

Liberal Democrat prospective candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire, and the party's Welsh leader, Jane Dodds said: "Thousands of residents across Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the chance to demand better than a Westminster politics that fails to take their concerns seriously."

A spokesman for Welsh Labour said: "The recall result is another huge blow to Chris Davies' credibility to serve as Member of Parliament. This is a mess all of his making."

He said the Tories "must not drag their feet" and call "an immediate by-election".

What happens next?

It will be for the Conservatives to kick-start the next stage of the process - known as "moving the writ" - by making a request to the House of Commons Speaker. This usually happens within three months of a vacancy arising.

Once MPs have agreed the writ is issued to the constituency's returning officer.

The by-election is then held within 21 to 27 days from the issuing of the writ.

The executive of the local Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative party is expected to meet over the weekend to discuss whether Mr Davies will stand.

It will then make a recommendation to the party's constituency members. If they decide to open the selection up, a process to find a new candidate will begin.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour have already selected candidates. The Brexit Party will also be taking part. </s> A by-election will be held in Brecon and Radnorshire after 10,005 people signed a petition to remove the constituency's Conservative MP, Chris Davies.

Mr Davies had been convicted of a false expenses claim in March.

A total of 5,303 names were needed to trigger a fresh poll.

Mr Davies is the third MP to face a recall petition and the second to be unseated through the process, following Fiona Onasanya in Peterborough.

Recall petitions are launched for a number of reasons including when MPs are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

Mr Davies' conviction related to when he was setting up his constituency office following the 2015 general election.

He had tried to split the cost of £700 worth of photographs between two office budgets by creating fake invoices, when he could have claimed the amount by other means.

The politician had made an "unreserved apology" following his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court in April, when he was fined £1,500 and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

Mr Davies has been MP for Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2015 general election, where he beat incumbent Liberal Democrat Roger Williams with the constituency's largest majority since 1983.

The constituency is within the county of Powys, where the Brexit party came top in May's European Parliament elections.

Liberal Democrat prospective candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire, and the party's Welsh leader, Jane Dodds said: "Thousands of residents across Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the chance to demand better than a Westminster politics that fails to take their concerns seriously."

A spokesman for Welsh Labour said: "The recall result is another huge blow to Chris Davies' credibility to serve as Member of Parliament. This is a mess all of his making."

He said the Tories "must not drag their feet" and call "an immediate by-election".

What happens next?

It will be for the Conservatives to kick-start the next stage of the process - known as "moving the writ" - by making a request to the House of Commons Speaker. This usually happens within three months of a vacancy arising.

Once MPs have agreed the writ is issued to the constituency's returning officer.

The by-election is then held within 21 to 27 days from the issuing of the writ.

The executive of the local Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative party is expected to meet over the weekend to discuss whether Mr Davies will stand.

It will then make a recommendation to the party's constituency members. If they decide to open the selection up, a process to find a new candidate will begin.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour have already selected candidates. The Brexit Party will also be taking part.

It is unclear if Plaid Cymru will be fielding a candidate, and a spokesman on Friday suggested it may be open to a pact with other parties who favour of a further referendum.

"In last month's European elections many voters broke the habit of a lifetime by choosing to back pro-People's Vote parties, rather than the Conservatives or Labour," a spokesman for the party said.

"Ensuring those of us who want to see a fresh referendum work together, at every possible level, to deliver this aim is crucial. We will explore options for how we can work together, across party lines, to deliver this in the upcoming Brecon and Radnorshire by-election." </s> Britain’s political parties will soon be fighting another by-election (special election) after Welsh Conservative Chris Davies was unseated by his own constituents in a recall petition, the second successful use of the removal mechanism ever.

Chris Davies, who represented the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency until today had pleaded guilty for submitting false expenses claims earlier this year. His conviction for the offence was followed by a recall petition which has now succeeded.

His seat had previously been held by the Liberal Democrats, who will particularly target the seat, despite Davies having secured a strong majority of 8,038 for the Conservatives in 2018. Their candidate for the forthcoming election said of the Davies: “Thousands of residents across Brecon and Radnorshire have taken the chance to demand better than a Westminster politics that fails to take their concerns seriously.

“Now we have a golden opportunity to do things differently. The clear choice in this by-election is between the Conservatives, whose chaos and infighting is letting our communities down, and a better future for our area with the Welsh Lib Dems.”

The Liberal Democrats have been enjoying a period of unusually high support given their position as the only major UK political party who campaign on a fully anti-Brexit, pro-European Union platform. Indeed, their European Union election campaign manifesto was titled ‘Bollocks to Brexit’.

The position of opposing Brexit is a minority opinion in the United Kingdom, however, and the only national political party fully supporting a full Brexit is enjoying even higher support — the Brexit Party. Nigel Farage’s new political force has been at the top of the Westminster general election polls for three weeks.

Brexit Party Chairman Richard Tice said of Davies’ removal by voters: “The sheer scale of the vote to force a recall and a by-election shows how strongly the level of dissatisfaction with politics in the country is rising up the agenda. The Brexit Party will be contesting the forthcoming by-election.

“It is clear that people of this county want to change politics for good.”

The party may enjoy a boost in Brecon and Radnorshire, given the area voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 Brexit referendum, as did Wales as a whole. Nathan Gill, a Brexit Party Euro-MP for Wales said of the forthcoming special election: “This is a great opportunity for the people of Brecon and Radnorshire, who voted to Leave the EU in the 2016 Referendum and confirmed that vote in the recent European Elections where they voted overwhelmingly for the Brexit Party to elect a Brexit Party MP and make history.”

The 2015 recall law provides that if a tenth of the voters in an MP’s constituency sign a petition of removal, that member is forced to stand down. In Davies’ case, almost double that number signed the petition which was handed to local government auditors for verification and counting this week.

The last use of the recall was in Peterborough, where Labour’s pro-Europe Fiona Onasanya was convicted of perverting the course of justice and subsequently removed.
Chris Davies, Member of the UK Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire, is removed from his position following a successful recall petition in the wake of his conviction for fraudulent expense claims. A by-election will be held to replace Davies.