Conwy (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950–2010

Not to be confused with Conwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency).

Conwy

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Conwy in Wales for the 2005 general election

Preserved county| Clwyd, Gwynedd
Major settlements| Conwy, Bangor, Llandudno
1950–2010
Seats| One
Created from| Caernarvon Boroughs and Caernarvonshire
Replaced by| Aberconwy

Conwy (Conway prior to 1983) was an electoral constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) by the single-member district plurality (also known as first-past-the-post) system of voting.

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election, and abolished for the 2010 general election.

## History

[edit]

It was a marginal between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party throughout its existence.

The Conwy Welsh Assembly constituency was created with the same boundaries as the Conwy House of Commons constituency in 1999.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The constituency was, geographically, relatively small for its region, as it followed and tended to keep to the coast, taking in parts of two separate densely populated coastal conurbations.

As well as the walled castle town of Conwy from which it bore its name, the constituency mainly comprised the popular holiday resort and retail centre of Llandudno to the east, and the city of Bangor, which is home to the University of Wales, Bangor, to the west. It also included the smaller coastal towns of Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan, as well as some sparser inland areas including former slate-quarrying communities in the Ogwen Valley.

The constituency, notably, did not include Colwyn Bay (or outlying Rhos-on-Sea), which forms part of a coastal conurbation (and the Conwy county borough) with Llandudno and its outlying town of Penrhyn Bay—both in the constituency; this area comes under the constituency of Clwyd West to the east. Nor did it include the town of Caernarfon—just southwest of Bangor—which was in a constituency of the same name.

The constituency was also bordered by Meirionnydd Nant Conwy to the south, and the insular constituency of Ynys Mon to the west.

Following the decisions of the Welsh Boundary Commission, the Conwy seat was significantly altered, forming the base of a new Aberconwy constituency established for the 2010 general election. Part of the constituency (notably Bangor) became part of the new Arfon constituency.

## Profile

[edit]

Although the constituency included a student population from the university, most of the voters were towards the older end of the age spectrum as it was a popular retirement area. The constituency was also linguistically diverse, with mainly English speakers in the east and mainly Welsh speakers in the west and inland areas.[citation needed]

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

The last MP was Betty Williams of the Labour Party, who held the seat from 1997 (when she gained 35.04% of the vote—a 9.4% swing from the Conservatives) until its abolition in 2010. Williams increased her share of the vote in 2001 (by 6.8%), but it was reduced in 2005 (by 4.7%). She is also the first female MP to hold the seat. The seat was previously held (since its renaming in 1983) by Sir Wyn Roberts for the Conservative Party, who was first elected for Conway, the old anglicised name of the constituency, in 1970.

Election | Member[1] | Party

|
|

| 1950 | Elwyn Jones | Labour
| 1951 | Peter Thomas | Conservative
| 1966 | Ednyfed Hudson Davies | Labour
| 1970 | Wyn Roberts | Conservative
| 1997 | Betty Williams | Labour
| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see Aberconwy

## Elections

[edit]

Election results since 1950

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1950: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Elwyn Jones | 15,176  | 38.4  |
| Conservative | David Price-White | 14,373  | 36.4  |
| Liberal | Emlyn Hooson | 9,937  | 25.2  |
Majority | 803  | 2.0  |
Turnout | 39,486  | 84.6  |
| Labour win (new seat)
General election 1951: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Thomas | 17,115  | 43.4  | +7.0
| Labour | Elwyn Jones | 16,532  | 41.9  | +4.5
| Liberal | Emlyn Hooson | 5,791  | 14.7  | −10.5
Majority | 583  | 1.5  | N/A
Turnout | 39,438  | 84.9  | +0.3
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |  |
General election 1955: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Thomas | 18,705  | 48.2  | +4.8
| Labour | Elwyn Jones | 13,881  | 35.8  | −6.1
| Liberal | Herbert Mostyn Lewis  | 3,217  | 8.2  | −6.5
| Plaid Cymru | Ioan Bowen Rees | 3,019  | 7.8  | New
Majority | 4,824  | 12.4  | +11.9
Turnout | 38,822  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1959: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Thomas | 17,795  | 47.1  | −1.1
| Labour | Silvan Jones  | 13,260  | 35.1  | −0.7
| Liberal | John H. Bellis  | 3,845  | 10.2  | +2.0
| Plaid Cymru | Ioan Bowen Rees | 2,852  | 7.6  | −0.2
Majority | 4,535  | 12.0  | −0.4
Turnout | 37,752  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Conway[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Thomas | 18,753  | 50.6  | +3.5
| Labour | Gwilym Roberts | 15,234  | 41.1  | +6.0
| Plaid Cymru | Gwilym Hughes  | 3,058  | 8.3  | +0.7
Majority | 3,519  | 9.5  | −2.5
Turnout | 37,045  | 80.3  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1966: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Ednyfed Davies | 18,203  | 47.5  | +6.4
| Conservative | Peter Thomas | 17,622  | 45.9  | −4.7
| Plaid Cymru | Robert E. Jones  | 2,552  | 6.6  | −1.7
Majority | 581  | 1.6  | N/A
Turnout | 38,377  | 83.7  | +3.4
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Conway[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 16,927  | 42.4  | −3.5
| Labour | Ednyfed Davies | 16,024  | 40.2  | −7.3
| Plaid Cymru | Dafydd Elis-Thomas | 4,311  | 10.8  | +4.2
| Liberal | Elfyn Lloyd Morris  | 2,626  | 6.6  | New
Majority | 903  | 2.2  | N/A
Turnout | 48,662  | 82.0  | −1.7
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |  |
General election February 1974: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 16,763  | 40.2  | −2.2
| Labour | David Benjamin Rees | 12,214  | 29.3  | −10.9
| Liberal | David Thomas Jones  | 8,546  | 20.4  | +13.8
| Plaid Cymru | Pryce Michael Farmer  | 4,203  | 10.1  | −0.7
Majority | 4,549  | 10.9  | +8.7
Turnout | 41,726  | 81.2  | −0.8
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election October 1974: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 15,614  | 39.6  | −0.6
| Labour | David Benjamin Rees | 12,808  | 32.5  | +3.2
| Liberal | David Thomas Jones  | 6,344  | 16.1  | −4.3
| Plaid Cymru | Pryce Michael Farmer  | 4,668  | 11.8  | +1.7
Majority | 2,806  | 7.1  | −3.8
Turnout | 39,434  | 76.2  | −5.0
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1979: Conway  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 18,142  | 44.7  | +5.1
| Labour | Gerson Wyn Davies  | 12,069  | 29.8  | −2.7
| Liberal | Roger Roberts | 6,867  | 16.9  | +0.8
| Plaid Cymru | Emyr Price  | 3,497  | 8.6  | −3.2
Majority | 6,073  | 14.9  | +7.8
Turnout | 40,575  | 79.0  | +2.8
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1980s

[edit]

General election 1983: Conwy[4][5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 16,413  | 41.7  | −1.5
| Liberal | Roger Roberts | 12,145  | 30.8  | +12.6
| Labour | Ira Walters  | 6,731  | 17.1  | −12.0
| Plaid Cymru | Dafydd Iwan | 4,105  | 10.4  | +0.8
Majority | 4,268  | 10.8  | −4.2
Turnout | 39,394  | 76.4  | −2.6
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1987: Conwy[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 15,730  | 38.7  | −3.0
| Liberal | Roger Roberts | 12,706  | 31.2  | +0.4
| Labour | Betty Williams | 9,049  | 22.3  | +5.2
| Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Davies  | 3,177  | 7.8  | −2.6
Majority | 3,024  | 7.5  | −3.3
Turnout | 40,662  | 77.8  | +1.4
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1992: Conwy[7][8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 14,250  | 33.7  | −5.0
| Liberal Democrats | Roger Roberts | 13,255  | 31.4  | +0.2
| Labour | Betty Williams | 10,883  | 25.8  | +3.5
| Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Davies  | 3,108  | 7.4  | −0.4
| Ind. Conservative | Owen Wainwright  | 637  | 1.5  | New
| Natural Law | David Hughes  | 114  | 0.3  | New
Majority | 995  | 2.3  | −5.2
Turnout | 42,247  | 78.7  | +0.9
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.5  |
General election 1997: Conwy[9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Betty Williams | 14,561  | 35.0  | +9.2
| Liberal Democrats | Roger Roberts | 12,965  | 31.2  | −0.2
| Conservative | David Jones | 10,085  | 24.3  | −9.4
| Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Davies  | 2,844  | 6.8  | −0.6
| Referendum | Allan Barham  | 760  | 1.8  | New
| Independent | Richard Bradley  | 250  | 0.6  | New
| Natural Law | David Hughes  | 95  | 0.2  | −0.1
Majority | 1,596  | 3.8  | N/A
Turnout | 41,560  | 75.4  | −3.3
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.3  |

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2001: Conwy[10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Betty Williams | 14,366  | 41.8  | +6.8
| Conservative | David Logan  | 8,147  | 23.7  | −0.6
| Liberal Democrats | Victoria MacDonald  | 5,800  | 16.9  | −14.3
| Plaid Cymru | Ann Owen  | 5,665  | 16.5  | +9.7
| UKIP | Allan Barham  | 388  | 1.1  | New
Majority | 6,219  | 18.1  | +14.3
Turnout | 34,366  | 62.9  | −12.5
| Labour hold | Swing | +3.7  |

In the 2005 general election, the seat was the 81st easiest seat for the Liberal Democrats to gain, and the 153rd easiest seat for the Conservative Party to gain. The Labour Party did not include the seat on its list of vulnerable seats and eventually held the seat (with a reduced proportion of the vote).

General election 2005: Conwy[11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Betty Williams | 12,479  | 37.1  | −4.7
| Conservative | Guto Bebb | 9,398  | 27.9  | +4.2
| Liberal Democrats | Gareth Roberts  | 6,723  | 20.0  | +3.1
| Plaid Cymru | Paul Rowlinson  | 3,730  | 11.1  | −5.4
| Green | Jim Killock  | 512  | 1.5  | New
| Socialist Labour | David Jones  | 324  | 1.0  | New
| UKIP | Ken Khambatta  | 298  | 0.9  | −0.2
| Legalise Cannabis | Tim Evans  | 193  | 0.6  | New
Majority | 3,081  | 9.2  | −8.9
Turnout | 33,723  | 62.6  | −0.3
| Labour hold | Swing | −4.5  |

* Official declaration of result of the poll (in PDF)

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Clwyd
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Gwynedd

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
2. ^ Wales at Westminster a History of Parliamentary representation in Wales 1800–1979 Arnold J James and John E Thomas Gwasg Gomer 1981 ISBN 0-85088-684-8
3. ^ Wales at Westminster a History of Parliamentary representation in Wales 1800–1979 Arnold J James and John E Thomas Gwasg Gomer 1981 ISBN 0-85088-684-8
4. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
5. ^ "1983: Wales Counties". Election Demon. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
6. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
7. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
8. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
9. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
10. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
11. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Conwy UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK

* v
* t
* e

Historic UK Parliament constituencies in Wales

Last contested in 1880

* Beaumaris
* Brecon
* Caernarvonshire
* Cardigan
* Carmarthenshire
* Denbighshire
* Glamorganshire
* Haverfordwest
* Monmouthshire
* Pembroke
* Radnor

Last contested in 1910

* Breconshire
* Denbigh Boroughs
* East Carmarthenshire
* East Denbighshire
* East Glamorganshire
* Eifion
* Flint Boroughs
* Mid Glamorganshire
* Monmouth Boroughs
* Montgomery
* North Monmouthshire
* Pembroke and Haverfordwest
* Radnorshire
* Rhondda
* South Glamorganshire
* South Monmouthshire
* Swansea
* West Carmarthenshire
* West Denbighshire
* West Monmouthshire

Last contested in 1915

* Cardiff
* Carmarthen (historic)
* Merthyr Tydfil
* Swansea Boroughs

Last contested in 1945

* Caernarfon
* Caernarvonshire
* Cardiff Central (historic)
* Cardiff East (historic)
* Cardiff South
* Flintshire
* Llandaff and Barry
* Merthyr
* University of Wales

Last contested in 1970

* Rhondda East
* Rhondda West

Last contested in 1979

* Aberdare
* Abertillery
* Barry
* Bedwellty
* Cardiff North West
* Cardiff South East
* Ceredigion
* Denbigh
* East Flintshire
* Ebbw Vale
* Merioneth
* Merthyr Tydfil
* Newport
* Pontypool
* West Flintshire

Last contested in 1992 (review)

* Ceredigion and Pembroke North
* Clwyd North West
* Clwyd South West
* Pembrokeshire

Last contested in 2005 (review)

* Caernarfon
* Conwy
* Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

Last contested in 2019 (review)

* Aberavon
* Aberconwy
* Arfon
* Blaenau Gwent
* Brecon and Radnorshire
* Cardiff Central
* Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
* Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
* Ceredigion
* Clwyd South
* Clwyd West
* Cynon Valley
* Delyn
* Islwyn
* Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
* Monmouth
* Montgomeryshire
* Neath
* Newport West
* Ogmore
* Preseli Pembrokeshire
* Rhondda
* Swansea East
* Vale of Clwyd

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