LABOUR has won a Powys council by-election in Brecon and its new councillor has told its general election candidate to take inspiration from her victory over the Conservatives.

Liz Rijnenberg, who was already a Brecon town councillor representing the St Mary ward, will now also sit on Powys County Council having gained the seat from the Tories.

Asked if she believed Labour’s general election candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire, her town council colleague Tom Davies, could take encouragement from her victory the newly elected county councillor replied: "I think so. Common sense tells me absolutely it is definitely a boost for Tom."

The resignation of Conservative councillor Sarah Lewis, last month, prompted the by-election and victory means Labour now holds all three county council wards in Brecon. The Labour group on the Independent/Conservative run council will now have eight members.

Labour took the seat with a 100 vote majority over the second placed Conservatives while the Liberal Democrats finished fourth with Plaid Cymru, which isn’t standing in the Brecon and Radnor at the general election to support the Lib Dems, in third place.

Lib Dem candidate Gareth Roberts congratulated the victor but said his campaigning reaffirmed his belief the general election will be a contest between Lib Dem Jane Dodds, who was elected to Parliament in an August by-election, and Conservative challenger Fay Jones. The Lib Dems have a 1,425 majority in the constituency.

He drew parallels between the Conservative defeat at the August by-election and county council by-election in Llandrindod last month where the Lib Dems gained a seat previously won the Tories.

Mr Roberts said: "The Conservatives have lost their third election in Brecon and Radnorshire in four months. Congratulations to Liz, whose personal popularity earned her support from across parties to win this time.

"Despite the result today, everyone I spoke to on the doorstep was clear that the only vote to beat the Conservatives in next month’s General Election is for Jane Dodds and the Welsh Lib Dems."

At the by-election Tom Davies only just clung on to his deposit and gained just 1,680 votes, the Labour Party’s worst ever performance in the constituency which it put down to supporters voting Lib Dem to defeat the Conservatives.

But Cllr Rijnenberg said she doesn’t agree with tactical voting and said no candidate should be written off in the general election.

The former probation officer said: "Politics is very confusing at the moment and people are tired at all the falling out between the parties.

"People will vote for who they think will do a good job and people will vote for Tom, he will have people voting for him.

"People will vote tactically, personally I don’t agree with that, I believe you support your party and vote for them or it all gets messy.

"This election shows if you go out and do the work you can win, so c’mon Tom get on with it."

The councillor credited her victory to a well organised campaign which allowed her to meet lots of voters.

She said: "I got out and spoke to just about every household in the ward. Over a four week period I’ve probably walked about 150 miles with lots of other dedicated people."

The Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative Association, whose candidate Alan Roberts was second, also congratulated Cllr Rijnenberg on her victory but brushed aside concerns it could impact the general election.Its chairman Peter Weavers said: "Alan Roberts, Conservative Candidate fought a very positive campaign and is committed to improving and enhancing St Mary Ward. We believe the opposition parties have made some questionable claims and some undeliverable promises covering both the local and national level. However, no doubt the electorate will hold them to account at the next election”.

Also standing in the Brecon and Radnorshire seat at the general election on December 12 are Ladly Lily the Pink of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party and Jeff Green of the Welsh Christian Party.

Powys County Council St Mary ward by-election result

Liz Rijnenberg Labour 344 (elected)

Alan Roberts Conservative 244

Gren Ham Plaid Cymru 130

Gareth Roberts Liberal Democrat 102

Gareth Phillips Independent 101Turnout: 42.4%