Neath (UK Parliament constituency)

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Not to be confused with Neath (Assembly constituency).
Neath
County constituency
for the House of Commons
120px
Boundary of Neath in Wales.
Preserved county West Glamorgan
Electorate 57,823 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Neath, Pontardawe
Current constituency
Created 1918
Member of parliament Christina Rees (Labour)
Number of members One
Created from Swansea District
Overlaps
Welsh Assembly South Wales West
European Parliament constituency Wales

Neath (Welsh: Castell-nedd) is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election and one Assembly Member by the first past the post system of election.

History

The constituency is located in the preserved county of West Glamorgan, Wales. It consists of the electoral wards of: Aberdulais, Allt-wen, Blaengwrach, Bryn-côch North, Bryn-côch South, Cadoxton, Cimla, Crynant, Cwmllynfell, Dyffryn, Glynneath, Godre'r Graig, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Lower Brynamman, Neath East, Neath North, Neath South, Onllwyn, Pelenna, Pontardawe, Resolven, Rhos, Seven Sisters, Tonna, Trebanos, Ystalyfera.

The Neath constituency is a mixture of both industrial and rural communities, running in a north-south strip along the dips, ridges and folded landscape of South Wales. It includes most of the Neath and Dulais valleys, and some of the Upper Swansea Valley as well. The town of Neath is at its southern end and is a medium-sized town which started life as a Roman Nidum.

The constituency boasts historical places of both industrial and natural forms. Neath and the surrounding areas were industrialised very early in Britain's history. Copper smelting was already happening here in the late sixteenth century.[citation needed]

When Neath Abbey (now a magnificent ruin) was founded in 1129, it was the richest of all Welsh monasteries, and in writings of the sixteenth century was described as the 'fairest Abbey of all Wales'. At its height it owned extensive lands and property, from Glamorgan to Somerset; had almost 5,000 sheep, as well as horses and cattle; it owned a ship and a landing-place, and worked mills, fisheries and coal-mines. But it suffered greatly during the many skirmishes between the Welsh and English (or Normans), and by the 1530s had only eight monks left. The ruins date mostly from the late thirteenth century. It has been in turn, a prosperous Abbey, a Jacobean Mansion (painted by Turner), an iron foundry (which explains the Abbey's position in the middle of an industrial area) and now an historical monument.

The constituency was heavily mined and the small communities that grew up around these mines were devastated by the collapse of the mining industry in the 1980s. On the edges of many of these communities there are now "Industrial Villages" springing up, helping to replace the jobs lost by the demise of the mining industry, and so helping to keep young people in these communities.[2][unreliable source?]

A legacy to Neath's political history is the memorial stone in Victoria Gardens to the 5 Neath citizens killed during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-38.[citation needed]

The constituency remains a Welsh-speaking area, with approximately 26% of the population reported as Welsh speakers.[citation needed]

Members of Parliament

Its current Member of Parliament is Christina Rees.

Election Member[3] Party
1918 John Hugh Edwards Coalition Liberal
1922 Sir William Jenkins Labour
1945 by-election D. J. Williams Labour
1964 Donald Coleman Labour
1991 by-election Peter Hain Labour
2015 Christina Rees Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Neath [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Christina Rees 16,270 43.8 −2.4
Plaid Cymru Daniel Thomas[5] 6,722 18.1 −1.8
UKIP Richard Pritchard 6,094 16.4 +14.2
Conservative Ed Hastie[6] 5,691 15.3 +2.3
Green Catrin Brock 1,185 3.2 N/A
Liberal Democrat Clare Bentley 1,173 3.2 −11.8
Majority 9,548 25.7 −0.6
Turnout 37,135 66.2 +1.3
Labour hold Swing -0.3
General Election 2010: Neath[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 17,172 46.3 -6.3
Plaid Cymru Alun Llywelyn 7,397 19.9 +2.8
Liberal Democrat Frank Little 5,535 14.9 +0.6
Conservative Emmeline Owens 4,847 13.1 +1.5
BNP Michael Green 1,342 3.6 N/A
UKIP James Bevan 829 2.2 N/A
Majority 9,775 26.3
Turnout 37,122 64.9 +2.4
Labour hold Swing -4.6

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 18,835 52.6 -8.1
Plaid Cymru Geraint Owen 6,125 17.1 -1.3
Liberal Democrat Sheila Waye 5,112 14.3 +4.8
Conservative Harri Davies 4,136 11.5 +2.0
Green Susan Jay 658 1.8 N/A
Independent Gerry Brienza 360 1.0 N/A
Legalise Cannabis Pat Tabram 334 0.9 N/A
Respect Heather Falconer 257 0.7 N/A
Majority 12,710 35.5
Turnout 35,817 62.2 -0.3
Labour hold Swing -3.4
General Election 2001: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 21,253 60.7 -12.8
Plaid Cymru Alun Llewelyn 6,437 18.4 +10.3
Liberal Democrat Dai Davies 3,335 9.5 +3.2
Conservative David Devine 3,310 9.5 +0.8
Socialist Alliance Huw Pudner 483 1.4 N/A
ProLife Alliance Gerry Brienza 202 0.6 N/A
Majority 14,816 42.3
Turnout 35,020 62.5 -11.7
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Neath[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 30,324 73.5 +5.5
Conservative David R. Adams 3,583 8.7 −6.6
Plaid Cymru Trefor Jones 3,344 8.1 −3.2
Liberal Democrat Frank H. Little 2,597 6.3 +0.9
Referendum Peter A. Morris 975 2.4 N/A
Independent Howard Marks 420 1.0 N/A
Majority 26,741 64.8
Turnout 41,243 74.3
Labour hold Swing +6.1
General Election 1992: Neath[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 30,903 68.0 +4.6
Conservative David R. Adams 6,928 15.2 −0.9
Plaid Cymru Dr Dewi R.Evans 5,145 11.3 +4.9
Liberal Democrat Rev. Michael Phillips 2,467 5.4 −8.6
Majority 23,975 52.8 +5.5
Turnout 45,443 80.6 +1.8
Labour hold Swing +2.8
Neath by-election 1991
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 17,962 51.7
Plaid Cymru Dewi Evans 8,132 23.3
Conservative Richard Evans 2,995 8.6
Liberal Democrat David Lloyd 2,000 5.8
Social Democratic John Warman 1,826 5.3
Local Independent Labour Rhys Jeffreys 1,253 3.6
Monster Raving Loony David Sutch 263 0.8
Captain Beany of the Bean Party Barry Kirk 262 0.7
Majority 9,830 28.7
Turnout 34,753 64.0
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 27,612 63.37
Conservative Martin Russell Thomson Howe 7,034 16.14
Social Democratic John Warman 6,132 14.07
Plaid Cymru Huw John 2,792 6.41
Majority 20,578 47.23
Turnout 78.84
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1983: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 22,670 53.62
Social Democratic K Davies 9,066 21.44
Conservative R Buckley 7,350 17.38
Plaid Cymru I Owen 3,046 7.20
Computer Democrat J Donavon 150 0.35
Majority 13,604 32.17
Turnout 76.50
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 27,071 64.52
Conservative C Sandy 8,455 20.15
Plaid Cymru A Gwyn 6,430 15.33
Majority 18,616 44.37
Turnout 81.22
Labour hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 25,028 61.44
Plaid Cymru HG Evans 7,305 17.93
Conservative M Harris 4,641 11.39
Liberal D Owen 3,759 9.23
Majority 17,723 43.51
Turnout 77.95
Labour hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 25,351 62.25
Plaid Cymru HG Evans 8,758 21.51
Conservative LJ Walters 6,616 16.25
Majority 16,593 40.74
Turnout 78.49
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1970: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 28,378 71.42
Conservative DHJ Martin-Jones 6,765 17.03
Plaid Cymru G John 4,012 10.10
Communist Bert Pearce 579 1.46
Majority 21,613 54.39
Turnout 75.33
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General Election 1966: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 31,183 79.90
Conservative PH Valerio 6,312 16.13
Communist JJ David 1,632 4.17
Majority 24,871 63.56
Turnout 78.74
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1964: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 29,692 73.38
Conservative MN Scorgie 8,342 20.61
Communist JJ David 2,432 6.01
Majority 21,350 52.76
Turnout 80.42
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. J. Williams 30,469 71.37
Conservative DNI Pearce 10,263 24.04
Communist JJ David 1,962 4.60
Majority 20,206 47.33
Turnout 82.56
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1955: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. J. Williams 30,581 76.36
Conservative JC Hope 9,467 23.64
Majority 21,114 52.72
Turnout 77.88
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1951: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. J. Williams 34,496 76.89
Conservative G Jennings 10,367 23.11
Majority 24,129 53.78
Turnout 85.94
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1950: Neath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. J. Williams 33,034 72.97
Conservative JC Hope 6,225 13.75
Liberal O Vaughan Jones 4,425 9.78
Communist A Thomas 1,584 3.50
Majority 26,809 59.22
Turnout 87.53
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Neath Electorate 67,083
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 37,957 75.79
National DJ Bowen 8,466 16.90
Plaid Cymru Wynne Islwyn Samuel 3,659 7.31
Majority 29,491 58.89
Turnout 75.66
Labour hold Swing
Neath by-election, 1945
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 30,847 79.3 N/A
Plaid Cymru Wynne Islwyn Samuel 6,290 16.2 N/A
Revolutionary Communist Jock Haston 1,781 4.6 N/A
Majority 24,557 63.1 N/A
Turnout 38,918 N/A
Labour hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1935: Neath Electorate 64,575
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sir William Jenkins unopposed n/a n/a
Labour hold Swing n/a
General Election 1931: Neath[11] Electorate 61,550
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sir William Jenkins 30,873 64.0 +3.8
Liberal DG Davies 17,389 36.0 +6.2
Majority 13,484 27.9 -2.5
Turnout 48,262 78.4 -3.7
Labour hold Swing -1.2

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1929: Neath[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins 29,455 60.2 n/a
Liberal Jack Jones 14,554 29.8 n/a
Unionist David J Evans 4,892 10.0 n/a
Majority 14,901 30.4 n/a
Turnout 82.1 n/a
Labour hold Swing n/a
General Election 1924: Neath[12] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins unopposed n/a n/a
Labour hold Swing n/a
General Election 1923: Neath [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins 20,764 62.3 +2.8
Liberal Thomas Elias 12,562 37.7 -2.8
Majority 8,202 24.6 +5.6
Turnout 73.9 -1.5
Labour hold Swing +2.8
General Election 1922 : Neath [12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins 19,566 59.5 +24.3
National Liberal John Hugh Edwards 13,331 40.5 -24.3
Majority 6,235 19.0 48.6
Turnout 75.4 +4.8
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +24.3

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1918 Neath[12] Electorate 38,929
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal 17,818 64.8 n/a
Labour Rev. Herbert Morgan 9,670 35.2 n/a
Majority 8,148 29.6 n/a
Turnout 70.6 n/a
Liberal win
  • denotes candidate who was endorsed by the Coalition Government.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Neath Port Talbot council
  3. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)[self-published source][better source needed]
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/neath-2015.html
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Neath, Neath Port Talbot CBC - candidates Neath
  8. ↑ Neath BBC Election - Neath
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

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