AN independent member of Powys council has called for other councillors to give Brecon and Radnorshire’s new MP a break from political attacks.

Councillor Liam Fitzpatrick said he wants to see "decency" in local politics and criticised two Conservative members of the council who have complained about newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Jane Dodds less than a fortnight after her election.

The MP, who won the Brecon and Radnorshire seat in the August 1 by-election, last week came under fire from Conservatives for requesting a meeting to discuss the way the county council allocates cash to schools.

This week a Conservative councillor complained Ms Dodds had campaigned ahead of an upcoming by-election in Sheffield rather than attend local events in the constituency on the weekend.

But Cllr Fitzpatrick, who represents the Talybont-on-Usk ward, has appealed for an end to the constant criticism of the MP before she has even been able to attend Parliament which doesn’t meet again until September.

He said: "Many of my residents of all political persuasions who have read these political attacks have reacted with horror and have stressed that there is no room in Powys for this type of vitriolic politics from the two Conservative members and some consider it rather childish .

"My residents don’t feel, and neither do I for that matter, that their comments are representative of Conservative Party members in Brecon and Radnorshire and that attacking the new MP within a week when she hasn’t even attended parliament yet - is uncalled for and unnecessary."

The councillor, who was first elected as Liberal Democrat in 2008 but stood as an independent in 2012 and since last year hasn’t been affiliated to any group on the council, said: "People are fed up with party politics as a whole and there should be some decency rather than ridiculous press releases and tweets as the new MP didn’t attend an agricultural show or has asked for a meeting with Powys to discuss school funding .

"The new MP, like everyone else in Powys, deserves a chance to settle in to her new job which she only started on August 1 and the democratic vote does need to be respected.

"We are possibly facing a no deal Brexit that will affect us all, especially our farming communities, and it is time to work together rather than attack a new MP who has just finished her induction course and hasn’t even attended Parliament yet .

"Lets have some decency and place nasty politics where it belongs - in the bin."