PARLIAMENT'S newest MP was born and brought up in Wrexham.

The Liberal Democrats' Jane Dodds, whose triumph in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election this week reduced the Conservative government and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's slim majority to just one, hails from the town.

Ms Dodds' mother was Marjorie Dykins OBE, a popular and well-known member of the community in Garden Village where she founded the first playgroup in Wrexham in 1950, and was a founder trustee of AVOW, Homestart, Family Friends and a wide range of other groups.

The Leader:

Jane Dodds celebrates her win at the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election count

Marjorie died aged 86 in October 2015 following illness, having been a resident at the Emerald House nursing home in Wrexham.

A memorial plaque made in memory of Marjorie was installed at AVOW's offices on Egerton Street in Wrexham town centre in 2016, with the unveiling ceremony carried out jointly by then Mayor Cllr John Pritchard and Ms Dodds.

Speaking ahead of the by-election, Ms Dodds said: "I was born and brought up in Wrexham in a Welsh speaking family.

"My mother instilled in me from a young age the importance of giving back to your community and making a positive difference to other people’s lives.

"I went on to study social work at Cardiff University and for the last 27 years have been working as a child protection social worker.

The Leader:

Jane Dodds

"This is why I’ve been fighting for change and to make a difference in peoples’ lives."

Ms Dodds received 13,826 votes, with the Conservative Party's Chris Davies, who was fighting to keep his seat after being ousted by a recall petition, receiving 12,401.

The recall petition was launched after Mr Davies was convicted for submitting false expenses claims. However, he decided to stand again for election and was reselected by his local Conservative group.

In her victory speech, Ms Dodds said that it was a "enormous privilege" to have been voted in.

She said that she had been "incredibly humbled" by the support she has received.

"People have chosen my positive liberal vision for something better", she said.

Ms Dodds said that she is going to bring a powerful message to Westminster, that "we demand better".

She said the first thing she is going to do when she gets there is to tell the Prime Minister to rule out a no-deal Brexit.