New PM to face by-election showdown the moment they enter No10 after Chris Davies ousted for faking expenses

THE NEXT PM will face an immediate election showdown after a Tory MP was sacked yesterday – triggering a by-election.

Chris Davies was booted out by voters after he was convicted for fiddling his expenses.

The remote Welsh constituency is a high-stakes battle for the new Tory leader as they face their already weak majority in Parliament slipping to just fourCredit: AFP or licensors

Chris Davies was ousted after nearly 20 per cent of his constituents signed a petition in uproar at his conviction for faking expenses claimsCredit: PA:Press Association

It means either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt will face a fierce battle to cling on to the swing seat of Brecon and Radnorshire once they enter No10.

The Lib Dems have warned they are “coming for the Tories” and have sent in an army of activists to try and snatch back their former stronghold.

While Nigel Farage’s insurgent Brexit Party are also standing in the Leave-constituency.

Mr Davies, 51, was fired after nearly 20 per cent of his constituents signed a recall petition.

It is a massive blow to No10 – reducing their already wafer-thin working majority to just four MPs.

And if they lose the by-election then it then the next PM will face one of just three.

OUSTED DAVIES CLINGS ON

Mr Davies vowed to stand again for the Tories.

He said: “I sincerely apologise to all the people of Brecon and Radnorshire – and now it is absolutely right that they have their say about whether they would still support me to be there their Member of Parliament in a by-election.

“I hope they do, and look forward to regaining their trust and building on the progress we have made over the last four years.”

He received the backing of Mr Hunt who tweeted: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of his expenses claim I have only ever know Chris Davies as a decent and honest man and a very diligent local MP.”

LIB DEMS FIGHT FARAGE

Lib Dem MP Ed Davey – who is standing to be party leader – said: “We are coming for the Conservatives in Brecon and we will come for the Conservatives in the constituency of Westminster.

“Liberal Democrats will do all we can to save the country from a Johnson premiership and to stop Brexit.

“Mr Johnson could very soon find himself without a majority, and I’m working night and day to secure an emergency national government to deliver a peoples’ vote.”

Mr Johnson – the overwhelming favourite to be the next PM – has claimed only he is a proven election winner.

But Labour has already vowed to call a confidence vote in a bid to topple him if he becomes the next leader.