It took less than 10 days for a recall petition to reach the threshold to trigger the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.

Research by the Electoral Commission, the independent body that sets the standards of elections in the UK, indicated that within 10 days more than 5,303 people signed the petition.

The recall petition was a result of former Conservative MP Chris Davies’ conviction earlier this year of having made a false expenses claim relating to setting up his constituency office after the 2015 UK Parliamentary General Election.

For a recall petition to result in an MP being recalled more than 10 per cent of people eligible to sign must do so within the six-week signing period.

Following a count held at County Hall, Llandrindod Wells in June, it was announced that 10,005 people had signed the recall petition to force the by-election which led to Mr Davies losing his parliamentary seat.

Data shows that in Brecon and Radnorshire, 70 per cent of all those who went to a signing place or returned a postal signing sheet did so within the first two weeks of the signing period.

The Electoral Commission has identified changes that would improve the experience for electors and the administration of future petitions based on the Brecon and Radnorshire poll.

It said the UK Government should start by considering whether a four-week period would be sufficient after some people involved in the petitions felt that the signing periods were too long.

The Commission also says that eligible electors should be given the chance to complete an equivalent to the signing sheet to indicate that they oppose the petition.