Preseli Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency)

UK Parliamentary constituency, 1997–2024

Not to be confused with Preseli Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency).

For the local authority which existed 1974–1996, see Preseli Pembrokeshire.

Preseli Pembrokeshire

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Preseli Pembrokeshire in Wales

Preserved county| Dyfed
Electorate| 58,343 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements| Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Fishguard, St Davids.
1997–2024
Seats| One
Created from| Ceredigion and Pembroke North, Pembroke
Replaced by| Ceredigion Preseli, Mid and South Pembrokeshire
Senedd| Preseli Pembrokeshire, Mid and West Wales

Preseli Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Preseli Sir Benfro) was a seat and constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[n 1]

The Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd constituency was created with the same boundaries in 1999.

Its last MP, who held the seat since 2005, was the Conservative Stephen Crabb, who was Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Work and Pensions Secretary) from March to July 2016. The seat was held by Labour's candidate from its creation in 1997 until 2005. The Labour and Conservative parties have won at least 27.7% of the vote apiece since its 1997 creation, with the next-placed parties having reached a maximum of 14.5% of the vote to date in a generally broad field.

The seat attracted five candidates in 2010, eight in 2015 (an election in which five of the deposits were refunded and three lost) and seven in 2017. At the 2017 election, Crabb's majority was the 27th closest out of the 650 Commons seats, 0.8% or 314 votes.[2] In 2019, there were four candidates; Crabb retained the seat with an increased majority.

The constituency was 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 2024 United Kingdom general election. Its wards were split between Ceredigion Preseli and Mid and South Pembrokeshire.[3]

## Constituency profile

[edit]

The seat was predominantly rural with both Welsh and English speaking areas. Milford Haven has a significant port and oil industry, and tourism is also a key sector due to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.[4] The seat was less affluent than the UK average.[5]

## Boundaries

[edit]

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

The constituency was created in 1997 from parts of the seats of Ceredigion and Pembroke North and Pembroke. It comprises the north and west coasts of Pembrokeshire and areas inland, including the Preseli Hills in the north of the county. It was the most westerly constituency in Wales. Much of the coastal area was in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

On its creation in 1997, its boundaries were co-terminous with the then District of Preseli Pembrokeshire. Since the 2006 boundary review of Welsh parliamentary constituencies, which took effect at the 2010 general election, it consists of the Pembrokeshire County electoral divisions of: Burton; Camrose; Cilgerran; Clydau; Crymych; Dinas Cross; Fishguard North East; Fishguard North West; Goodwick; Haverfordwest Castle; Haverfordwest Garth; Haverfordwest Portfield; Haverfordwest Prendergast; Haverfordwest Priory; Johnston; Letterston; Llangwm; Llanrhian; Maenclochog; Merlin's Bridge; Milford Central; Milford East; Milford Hakin; Milford Hubberston; Milford North; Milford West; Newport; Neyland East; Neyland West; Rudbaxton; St David's; St Dogmaels; St Ishmael's; Scleddau; Solva; The Havens; and Wiston.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

| Election  | Candidate  | Party

|
|
|

| 1997 | Jackie Lawrence | Labour
| 2005 | Stephen Crabb | Conservative
| 2024 | Constituency abolished

## Elections

[edit]

Pembrokeshire election history

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Preseli Pembrokeshire[6][7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Jackie Lawrence | 20,477  | 48.3  | N/A
| Conservative | Robert Buckland | 11,741  | 27.7  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats | Jeffrey Clarke  | 5,527  | 13.0  | N/A
| Plaid Cymru | Alun Jones  | 2,683  | 6.3  | N/A
| Referendum | David Berry  | 1,574  | 3.7  | N/A
| Green | Molly Scott Cato | 401  | 0.9  | N/A
Majority | 8,736  | 20.6  | N/A
Turnout | 42,403  | 78.3  | N/A
Registered electors | 54,150  |  |
| Labour win (new seat)

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2001: Preseli Pembrokeshire[8][9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Jackie Lawrence | 15,206  | 41.3  | −7.0
| Conservative | Stephen Crabb | 12,260  | 33.3  | +5.6
| Plaid Cymru | Rhys Sinnett  | 4,658  | 12.7  | +6.4
| Liberal Democrats | Alexander Dauncey  | 3,882  | 10.6  | −2.4
| Socialist Labour | Patricia Bowen  | 452  | 1.2  | N/A
| UKIP | Hugh Jones  | 319  | 0.9  | N/A
Majority | 2,946  | 8.0  | −12.6
Turnout | 36,777  | 67.8  | −10.5
Registered electors | 54,283  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | -6.3  |
General election 2005: Preseli Pembrokeshire[10][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Stephen Crabb | 14,106  | 36.6  | +3.3
| Labour | Sue Hayman | 13,499  | 35.0  | −6.3
| Liberal Democrats | Dewi Smith  | 4,963  | 12.9  | +2.3
| Plaid Cymru | Matt Mathias  | 4,752  | 12.3  | −0.4
| UKIP | James Carver | 498  | 1.3  | +0.4
| Green | Molly Scott Cato | 494  | 1.3  | N/A
| Socialist Labour | Patricia Bowen  | 275  | 0.7  | −0.5
Majority | 607  | 1.6  | N/A
Turnout | 38,587  | 69.5  | +1.7
Registered electors | 55,502  |  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.8  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

General election 2010: Preseli Pembrokeshire[12][13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Stephen Crabb | 16,994  | 42.8  | +6.4
| Labour | Mari Rees  | 12,339  | 31.2  | −3.7
| Liberal Democrats | Nick Tregoning  | 5,759  | 14.5  | +1.5
| Plaid Cymru | Henry Jones-Davies  | 3,654  | 9.2  | −3.3
| UKIP | Richard Lawson  | 906  | 2.3  | +1.0
Majority | 4,605  | 11.6  | +10.0
Turnout | 39,602  | 69.0  | −1.0
Registered electors | 57,400  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.0  |
General election 2015: Preseli Pembrokeshire[14][15][16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Stephen Crabb | 16,383  | 40.4  | −2.4
| Labour | Paul Miller  | 11,414  | 28.1  | −3.1
| UKIP | Howard Lillyman  | 4,257  | 10.5  | +8.2
| Independent | Chris Overton  | 3,729  | 9.2  | N/A
| Plaid Cymru | John Osmond  | 2,518  | 6.2  | −3.0
| Green | Frances Bryant  | 1,452  | 3.6  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats | Nick Tregoning  | 780  | 1.9  | −12.6
| The New Society of Worth  | Rodney Maile  | 23  | 0.1  | N/A
Majority | 4,969  | 12.3  | +0.7
Turnout | 40,556  | 70.7  | +1.7
Registered electors | 57,291  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.3  |
General election 2017: Preseli Pembrokeshire[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Stephen Crabb | 18,302  | 43.4  | +3.0
| Labour | Philippa Thompson  | 17,988  | 42.6  | +14.5
| Plaid Cymru | Owain Llŷr Williams  | 2,711  | 6.4  | +0.2
| Independent | Chris Overton  | 1,209  | 2.9  | −6.3
| Liberal Democrats | Bob Kilmister  | 1,106  | 2.6  | +0.7
| UKIP | Susan Bale  | 850  | 2.0  | −8.5
| The New Society of Worth  | Rodney Maile  | 31  | 0.1  | ±0.0
Majority | 314  | 0.8  | −11.5
Turnout | 42,197  | 72.1  | +1.4
Registered electors | 58,555  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -5.7  |
General election 2019: Preseli Pembrokeshire[18][19][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Stephen Crabb | 21,381  | 50.4  | +7.0
| Labour | Philippa Thompson  | 16,319  | 38.5  | −4.1
| Plaid Cymru | Cris Tomos  | 2,776  | 6.5  | +0.1
| Liberal Democrats | Thomas Hughes  | 1,943  | 4.6  | +2.0
Rejected ballots  | 153  |  |
Majority | 5,062  | 11.9  | +11.1
Turnout | 42,419  | 71.2  | −0.9
Registered electors | 59,586  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.6  |

Of the 153 rejected ballots:

* 119 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[20]
* 34 voted for more than one candidate.[20]

## See also

[edit]

* Preseli Pembrokeshire (Senedd constituency)
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Dyfed
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Wales

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ As in all seats since the mid-20th century abolition of University Seats, it elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Beyond 20/20 WDS - Table view". 2011 Electorate Figures. StatsWales. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
2. ^ Library, House of Commons (23 June 2017). "GE2017: Marginal seats and turnout".
3. ^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
4. ^ UK Polling Report http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/preselipembrokeshire/
5. ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Preseli+Pembrokeshire
6. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
7. ^ "BBC NEWS>VOTE 2001>Results and Constituencies>Preseli Pembrokeshire". Vote 2001. BBC News. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
8. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
9. ^ "BBC NEWS > Preseli Pembrokeshire". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
10. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
11. ^ "Preseli Pembrokeshire parliamentary constituency - Election 2005" - via www.bbc.co.uk.
12. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
13. ^ Preseli Pembrokeshire BBC Election - Preseli Pembrokeshire
14. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
15. ^ "Pembrokeshire results". Election Results. Pembrokeshire County Council. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
16. ^ "Preseli Pembrokeshire Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
17. ^ "Preseli Pembrokeshire Parliamentary constituency". Election 2017 Results. BBC. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
18. ^ "Elections and Voting". Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
19. ^ "Preseli Pembrokeshire parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
20. ^ a b c "Election-Results/General-Election-2019". Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Politics Resources (Election results from 1922 onwards)
* Electoral Calculus (Election results from 1955 onwards)
* 2017 Election House Of Commons Library 2017 Election report
* A Vision Of Britain Through Time (Constituency elector numbers)
* Preseli Pembrokeshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Preseli Pembrokeshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK

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