Neath
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Neath in Wales
Preserved countyWest Glamorgan
Electorate57,823 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsNeath, Pontardawe
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentChristina Rees (Labour Co-operative (currently suspended))
SeatsOne
Created fromMid Glamorganshire and Gower
Overlaps
SeneddNeath, South Wales West

Neath (Welsh: Castell-nedd) is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Christina Rees, a Labour and Co-operative MP.[n 2] As of 13 October 2022, she is currently suspended from the party and therefore sitting as an independent, following allegations of bullying.[2]

The constituency is set to be abolished, as part of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and under the June 2023 final recommendations of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the next United Kingdom general election. Its wards is to be split between Aberafan Maesteg, Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, and Neath and Swansea East.[3]

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 and 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.

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.[4]

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.

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

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[5] 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 Co-operative
2022 Independent

Elections

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Neath[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal Hugh Edwards 17,818 64.8 N/A
Labour Herbert Morgan 9,670 35.2 N/A
Majority 8,148 29.6 N/A
Turnout 27,488 70.6 N/A
Registered electors 38,929
Liberal win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Neath[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins 19,566 59.5 +24.3
National Liberal Hugh Edwards 13,331 40.5 -24.3
Majority 6,235 19.0 N/A
Turnout 32,897 75.4 +4.8
Registered electors 32,897
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +24.3
General election 1923: Neath[6]
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 33,326 73.9 -1.5
Registered electors 33,326
Labour hold Swing +2.8
General election 1924: Neath[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins Unopposed
Registered electors 46,996
Labour hold
General election 1929: Neath[6]
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 48,901 82.1 N/A
Registered electors 48,901
Labour hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Neath[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins 30,873 64.0 +3.8
Liberal David G Davies 17,389 36.0 +6.2
Majority 13,484 28.0 -2.4
Turnout 48,262 78.4 -3.7
Registered electors 61,550
Labour hold Swing -1.2
General election 1935:Neath[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins Unopposed
Registered electors 64,975
Labour hold

Elections in the 1940s

1945 Neath by-election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 30,847 79.3 N/A
Plaid Cymru Wynne 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 58.0 N/A
Registered electors 67,083
Labour hold Swing N/A
General election 1945: Neath[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 37,957 75.8 N/A
National Liberal David Bowen 8,466 16.9 N/A
Plaid Cymru Wynne Samuel 3,659 7.3 N/A
Majority 29,491 58.9 N/A
Turnout 50,082 75.7 N/A
Registered electors 67,083
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 33,034 73.0 -2.8
Conservative Jack C. Hope 6,225 13.7 -3.2
Liberal O Vaughan Jones 4,425 9.8 N/A
Communist A Thomas 1,584 3.5 N/A
Majority 26,809 59.3 +0.4
Turnout 45,268 87.5 +11.8
Registered electors 51,720
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 34,496 76.9 +3.9
Conservative Geoffrey Jennings 10,367 23.1 +9.4
Majority 24,129 53.8 -5.5
Turnout 44,863 85.9 -1.6
Registered electors 52,203
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 30,581 76.4 -0.5
Conservative Jack C. Hope 9,467 23.6 +0.5
Majority 21,114 52.8 -1.0
Turnout 40,048 77.9 -8.0
Registered electors 51,422
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David James Williams 30,469 71.4 -5.0
Conservative Daniel Norton Idris Pearce 10,263 24.0 +0.4
Communist James J. David 1,962 4.6 N/A
Majority 20,206 47.4 -5.4
Turnout 42,694 82.6 +4.7
Registered electors 51,711
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 29,692 73.4 +2.0
Conservative Mervyn Nelson Scorgie 8,342 20.6 -3.4
Communist James J. David 2,432 6.0 +1.4
Majority 21,350 52.8 +5.4
Turnout 41,466 80.4 -2.2
Registered electors 50,318
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 31,183 79.9 +6.5
Conservative Paul H. Valerio 6,312 16.1 -4.5
Communist James J. David 1,632 4.2 -1.8
Majority 24,871 63.8 +11.0
Turnout 39,127 78.7 -1.7
Registered electors 49,694
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Neath[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 28,378 71.4 -8.5
Conservative David Henry J. Martin-Jones 6,765 17.0 +0.9
Plaid Cymru Glyn John 4,012 10.1 N/A
Communist Bert Pearce 579 1.5 -2.7
Majority 21,613 54.4 -9.2
Turnout 38,734 75.3 -3.4
Registered electors 52,744
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Neath[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 25,351 62.2 -9.2
Plaid Cymru H G Evans 8,758 21.5 +11.4
Conservative L J Walters 6,616 16.2 -0.8
Majority 16,593 40.7 -13.7
Turnout 40,725 78.5 +3.2
Registered electors 51,887
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Neath[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 25,028 61.4 -0.8
Plaid Cymru H G Evans 7,305 17.9 -3.6
Conservative M Harris 4,641 11.4 -4.8
Liberal D Owen 3,759 9.2 N/A
Majority 17,723 43.5 +2.8
Turnout 40,733 77.9 -0.6
Registered electors 52,257
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Neath[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 27,071 64.5 +3.1
Conservative C Sandy 8,455 20.1 +8.7
Plaid Cymru Aled Gwyn 6,430 15.3 -2.6
Majority 18,616 44.4 +0.9
Turnout 41,956 81.2 +3.3
Registered electors 51,659
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Neath[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 22,670 53.6 -10.9
SDP Keith Davies 9,066 21.4 N/A
Conservative Richard Buckley 7,350 17.4 -2.7
Plaid Cymru Ieuan Owen 3,046 7.2 -8.1
Computer Democrat J Donavon 150 0.3 N/A
Majority 13,604 32.2 -12.2
Turnout 42,282 76.5 -4.7
Registered electors 55,272
Labour hold Swing
General election 1987: Neath[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Coleman 27,612 63.4 +9.8
Conservative Martin Howe 7,034 16.1 -1.3
SDP John Warman 6,132 14.1 -7.3
Plaid Cymru Huw John 2,792 6.4 -0.8
Majority 20,578 47.3 +15.1
Turnout 43,570 78.8 +2.3
Registered electors 55,261
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

1991 Neath by-election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 17,962 51.7 −11.7
Plaid Cymru Dewi Evans 8,132 23.3 +16.9
Conservative Richard Evans 2,995 8.6 −7.5
Liberal Democrats David Lloyd 2,000 5.8 -8.3
SDP John Warman 1,826 5.3 N/A
Local Independent Labour Rhys Jeffreys 1,253 3.6 N/A
Monster Raving Loony David Sutch 263 0.8 N/A
Captain Beany of the Bean Party Barry Kirk 262 0.7 N/A
Majority 9,830 28.4 −18.9
Turnout 34,753 64.0 −14.8
Registered electors 54,482
Labour hold Swing +2.0
General election 1992: Neath[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 30,903 68.0 +4.6
Conservative David R. Adams 6,928 15.2 −0.9
Plaid Cymru Dewi R. Evans 5,145 11.3 +4.9
Liberal Democrats Michael Phillips 2,467 5.4 -8.7
Majority 23,975 52.8 +5.5
Turnout 45,443 80.6 +1.8
Registered electors 56,392
Labour hold Swing +2.8
General election 1997: Neath[16][17][18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 30,324 73.5 +5.5
Conservative David M. Evans 3,583 8.7 −6.5
Plaid Cymru Trefor Jones 3,344 8.1 −3.2
Liberal Democrats Frank H. Little 2,597 6.3 +0.9
Referendum Peter A. Morris 975 2.4 N/A
Legalise Cannabis Party Howard Marks 420 1.0 N/A
Majority 26,741 64.8 +12.0
Turnout 41,243 74.3 -6.3
Registered electors 55,541
Labour hold Swing +6.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Neath[20][21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 21,253 60.7 −12.8
Plaid Cymru Alun Llewelyn 6,437 18.4 +10.3
Liberal Democrats 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 -22.5
Turnout 35,020 62.5 −11.8
Registered electors 56,001
Labour hold Swing -11.5
General election 2005: Neath[23][24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 18,835 52.6 −8.1
Plaid Cymru Geraint Owen 6,125 17.1 −1.3
Liberal Democrats 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 -6.8
Turnout 35,817 62.2 −0.3
Registered electors 57,278
Labour hold Swing −3.4

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2010: Neath[26][27][28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Hain 17,172 46.3 −6.3
Plaid Cymru Alun Llywelyn 7,397 19.9 +2.8
Liberal Democrats Frank Little 5,535 14.9 +0.6
Conservative Emmeline Owens 4,847 13.1 +1.6
BNP Michael Green 1,342 3.6 N/A
UKIP James Bevan 829 2.2 N/A
Rejected ballots 67
Majority 9,775 26.4 -9.1
Turnout 37,122 64.9 +2.7
Registered electors 57,295
Labour hold Swing −4.6

Of the 67 rejected ballots:

  • 44 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[29]
  • 22 voted for more than one candidate.[29]
  • 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[29]
General election 2015: Neath[30][31][32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Christina Rees 16,270 43.8 −2.5
Plaid Cymru Daniel Thomas 6,722 18.1 −1.8
UKIP Richard Pritchard 6,094 16.4 +14.2
Conservative Ed Hastie 5,691 15.3 +2.2
Green Catrin Brock 1,185 3.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Clare Bentley 1,173 3.2 −11.7
Rejected ballots 114
Majority 9,548 25.7 −0.7
Turnout 37,135 66.2 +1.3
Registered electors 56,097
Labour Co-op hold Swing −0.3

Of the 114 rejected ballots:

  • 81 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[33]
  • 33 voted for more than one candidate.[33]
General election 2017: Neath[34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Christina Rees 21,713 56.7 +12.9
Conservative Orla Lowe 9,082 23.7 +8.4
Plaid Cymru Daniel Williams 5,339 13.9 −4.2
UKIP Richard Pritchard 1,419 3.7 −12.7
Liberal Democrats Frank Little 732 1.9 −1.3
Rejected ballots 83
Majority 12,631 33.0 +7.3
Turnout 38,285 68.5 +1.3
Registered electors 55,862
Labour Co-op hold Swing +2.2

Of the 83 rejected ballots:

  • 57 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[35]
  • 22 voted for more than one candidate.[35]
  • 3 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[35]
  • 1 had want of official mark.[35]
General election 2019: Neath[36][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Christina Rees 15,920 43.3 –13.4
Conservative Jon Burns 10,283 28.0 +4.3
Plaid Cymru Daniel Williams 4,495 12.2 –1.7
Brexit Party Simon Briscoe 3,184 8.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andrew Kingston-Jones 1,485 4.0 +2.1
Green Megan Lloyd 728 2.0 N/A
Independent Philip Rogers 594 1.6 N/A
SDP Carl Williams 67 0.2 N/A
Rejected ballots 107
Majority 5,637 15.3 –17.7
Turnout 36,756 65.2 –3.3
Registered electors 56,416
Labour Co-op hold Swing –8.8

Of the 107 rejected ballots:

  • 84 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[37]
  • 23 voted for more than one candidate.[37]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

  1. ↑ "Beyond 20/20 WDS – Table view". 2011 Electorate Figures. StatsWales. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "Labour MP Christina Rees loses party whip after alleged bullying". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. ↑ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Neath Port Talbot Council". www.npt.gov.uk.
  5. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 1)
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Craig, F. W. S. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (1 ed.). Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-019. Page 560
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British parliamentary election results 1950-1970 (1 ed.). Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 9780900178023. Page 580
  8. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election February 1974. Politics Resources. 28 February 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election October 1974. Politics Resources. 10 October 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 3 May 1979. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1987-92 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Welsh Counties". Election 1997. David Boothroyd. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "'Neath', May 1997 -". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Project. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "BBC NEWS>VOTE 2001>Results and Constituencies>Neath". Vote 2001. BBC News. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "BBC NEWS > Neath". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "2001 Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Neath parliamentary constituency - Election 2005" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  25. ↑ "2005 Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  26. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  27. ↑ Neath Archived 2011-08-28 at Wikiwix, Neath Port Talbot CBC – candidates Neath
  28. ↑ Neath BBC Election – Neath
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  30. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  31. ↑ "Aberavon and Neath Results" (PDF). UK Parliamentary Elections May 2015 results. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  32. ↑ "Neath Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  33. 1 2 3 "Neath Results". UK Parliamentary Elections May 2015 results. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "Neath Parliamentary constituency". Election 2017 Results. BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 "2017 Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  36. ↑ "Neath parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  37. 1 2 3 "Election-Results/General-Election-2019". Neath Port Talbot Council. Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.

Further reading

51°43′14″N 3°46′11″W / 51.72056°N 3.76972°W / 51.72056; -3.76972

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