Vale of Clwyd (UK Parliament constituency)

UK Parliamentary constituency, 1997–2024

Not to be confused with Vale of Clwyd (Senedd constituency).

Vale of Clwyd

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Vale of Clwyd in Wales

Preserved county| Clwyd
Electorate| 55,925 (December 2018)[1]
Major settlements| Rhyl, Prestatyn, Denbigh, St Asaph, Rhuddlan, Trefnant, Tremeirchion, Bodelwyddan.
1997–2024
Seats| One
Created from| Clwyd North West, Delyn, Clwyd South West
Replaced by| Clwyd East, Clwyd North
Senedd| Vale of Clwyd, North Wales

The Vale of Clwyd (Welsh: Dyffryn Clwyd) was a constituency of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament created in 1997. As with all seats it elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system at least every five years.

The Vale of Clwyd Senedd constituency was created with the same boundaries in 1999 (as an Assembly constituency).

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. Its area was split between Clwyd East and Clwyd North, to be first contested at the 2024 general election.[2]

## Boundaries

[edit]

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

1997–2010: The Borough of Rhuddlan, the District of Glyndwr wards of Denbigh Central, Denbigh Lower, Denbigh Upper, Henllan, and Llandyrnog, and the Borough of Colwyn ward of Trefnant.

2010–2024: The Denbighshire County electoral divisions of Bodelwyddan, Denbigh Central, Denbigh Lower, Denbigh Upper/Henllan, Dyserth, Llandyrnog, Prestatyn Central, Prestatyn East, Prestatyn Meliden, Prestatyn North, Prestatyn South West, Rhuddlan, Rhyl East, Rhyl South, Rhyl South East, Rhyl South West, Rhyl West, St Asaph East, St Asaph West, Trefnant, and Tremeirchion.

The constituency was created in 1997 from the seats of Clwyd North West, Clwyd South West and Delyn. It wasin the north of Wales, containing the seaside town of Prestatyn and its coastal neighbour Rhyl which is overlooked by the community of Rhuddlan. It also contained the inland towns of Denbigh, St Asaph, Bodelwyddan, Trefnant and Tremeirchion.

## Political history

[edit]

The seat was won by the Labour candidate in 1997, 2001, 2005 and on a marginal majority in 2010. The seat was next won by the Conservative candidate standing in 2015. The 2015 result gave the seat the 4th most marginal majority of the Conservative Party's 331 seats by percentage of majority.[3] However, Labour regained the seat in the 2017 general election with more than half the eligible votes, the first Labour gain from the Conservatives on the night. In 2019 general election, the seat reverted to the Conservatives as the party made gains from Labour in north east Wales.[4]

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | Member[5] | Party

|
|

| 1997 | Chris Ruane | Labour
| 2015 | James Davies | Conservative
| 2017 | Chris Ruane | Labour
| 2019 | James Davies | Conservative
| 2024 | Constituency abolished

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Vale of Clwyd[6][7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Chris Ruane | 20,617  | 52.7  | N/A
| Conservative | David Edwards  | 11,662  | 29.8  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats | Daniel Munford  | 3,425  | 8.8  | N/A
| Plaid Cymru | Gwyneth Kensler  | 2,301  | 5.9  | N/A
| Referendum | Simon Vickers  | 834  | 2.1  | N/A
| UKIP | Scott Cooke  | 293  | 0.7  | N/A
Majority  | 8,995  | 22.9  | N/A
Turnout | 39,132  | 74.6  | N/A
Registered electors | 52,426  |  |
| Labour win (new seat)

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2001: Vale of Clwyd[8][7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Chris Ruane | 16,179  | 50.0  | ―2.7
| Conservative | Brendan Murphy  | 10,418  | 32.2  | +2.4
| Liberal Democrats | Graham Rees  | 3,058  | 9.5  | +0.7
| Plaid Cymru | John Williams  | 2,300  | 7.1  | +1.2
| UKIP | William Campbell  | 391  | 1.2  | +0.5
Majority  | 5,761  | 17.8  | ―5.1
Turnout | 32,346  | 63.6  | ―11.0
Registered electors | 50,842  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | ―2.5  |
General election 2005: Vale of Clwyd[9][10][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Chris Ruane | 14,875  | 46.0  | ―4.0
| Conservative | Felicity Elphick  | 10,206  | 31.6  | ―0.6
| Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Jewkes  | 3,820  | 11.8  | +2.3
| Plaid Cymru | Mark Jones  | 2,309  | 7.1  | ±0.0
| Independent | Mark Young  | 442  | 1.4  | N/A
| UKIP | Edna Khambatta  | 375  | 1.2  | ±0.0
| Legalise Cannabis | Jeff Ditchfield  | 286  | 0.9  | N/A
Majority  | 4,669  | 14.4  | ―3.4
Turnout | 32,313  | 62.2  | ―1.4
Registered electors | 51,983  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | ―1.7  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

General election 2010: Vale of Clwyd[12][13][14][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Chris Ruane | 15,017  | 42.3  | ―3.6
| Conservative | Matt Wright  | 12,508  | 35.2  | +3.5
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Penlington  | 4,472  | 12.6  | +0.7
| Plaid Cymru | Caryl Wyn-Jones  | 2,068  | 5.8  | ―1.4
| BNP | Ian Si'Ree  | 827  | 2.3  | N/A
| UKIP | Tom Turner  | 515  | 1.4  | +0.3
| Alliance for Green Socialism  | Mike Butler  | 127  | 0.4  | N/A
Rejected ballots  | 55  |  |
Majority  | 2,509  | 7.1  | ―7.3
Turnout | 35,534  | 63.7  | ―2.1
Registered electors | 55,781  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | ―3.6  |

Of the 55 rejected ballots:

* 32 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[15]
* 23 voted for more than one candidate.[15]

General election 2015: Vale of Clwyd[16][17][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Davies | 13,760  | 39.0  | +3.8
| Labour | Chris Ruane | 13,523  | 38.4  | ―3.9
| UKIP | Paul Davies-Cooke[19] | 4,577  | 13.0  | +11.6
| Plaid Cymru | Mair Rowlands  | 2,486  | 7.1  | +1.3
| Liberal Democrats | Gwyn Williams  | 915  | 2.6  | ―10.0
Rejected ballots  | 77  |  |
Majority  | 237  | 0.6  | N/A
Turnout | 35,261  | 62.4  | ―1.3
Registered electors | 56,505  |  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.9  |

Of the 77 rejected ballots:

* 60 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[17]
* 16 voted for more than one candidate.[17]
* 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[17]

General election 2017: Vale of Clwyd[20][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Chris Ruane[22] | 19,423  | 50.2  | +11.8
| Conservative | James Davies | 17,044  | 44.1  | +5.1
| Plaid Cymru | David Wyatt  | 1,551  | 4.0  | ―3.1
| Liberal Democrats | Gwyn Williams  | 666  | 1.7  | ―0.9
Rejected ballots  | 91  |  |
Majority  | 2,379  | 6.1  | N/A
Turnout | 38,684  | 68.0  | +5.6
Registered electors | 56,890  |  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.5  |

Of the 91 rejected ballots:

* 72 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[21]
* 18 voted for more than one candidate.[21]
* 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[21]

General election 2019: Vale of Clwyd[23][24][25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Davies | 17,270  | 46.4  | +2.3
| Labour | Chris Ruane | 15,443  | 41.5  | ―8.7
| Plaid Cymru | Glenn Swingler  | 1,552  | 4.2  | +0.2
| Brexit Party | Peter Dain  | 1,477  | 4.0  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats | Gavin Scott  | 1,471  | 4.0  | +2.3
Rejected ballots  | 84  |  |
Majority  | 1,827  | 4.9  | N/A
Turnout | 37,213  | 65.7  | ―2.3
Registered electors | 56,649  |  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.5  |

Of the 84 rejected ballots:

* 76 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[25]
* 8 voted for more than one candidate.[25]

## See also

[edit]

* Vale of Clwyd (Senedd constituency)
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Clwyd
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Wales

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Electoral rolls by Welsh Assembly constituency areas and electoral regions". 2019 Electorate Figures. StatsWales. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
2. ^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
3. ^ "Conservative Members of Parliament 2015". UK Political.info. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
4. ^ "General election 2019: First female Tory MP wins Wrexham". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "V"
6. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
7. ^ a b "BBC NEWS > Vale of Clwyd". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
8. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
9. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
10. ^ "Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency - Election 2005" - via www.bbc.co.uk.
11. ^ "2005 Results". Denbighshire County Council. April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
12. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
13. ^ Vale of Clwyd Denbighshire County Council – candidates Vale of Clwyd
14. ^ Vale of Clwyd BBC Election 2010 – Vale of Clwyd
15. ^ a b c "Election Results". Denbighshire County Council. April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
16. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
17. ^ a b c d "Vale of Clwyd result". Election results for Vale of Clwyd. Denbighshire County Council. April 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
18. ^ "Vale of Clwyd Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
19. ^ "UKIP Candidates". UKIP. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
20. ^ "BBC News Election Results". Retrieved 9 June 2017.
21. ^ a b c d "2017 Results". Denbighshire County Council. April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
22. ^ "BBC News". 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
23. ^ "The General Election 2019 candidates standing in Vale of Clwyd". Wales Online. Ruth Mosalski. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
24. ^ "Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
25. ^ a b c "Election-Results/General-Election-2019". Denbighshire County Council. April 2013. Retrieved 11 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)
* Vale of Clwyd UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Vale of Clwyd UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK

* v
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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
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* Eifion
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* 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
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Last contested in 1945

* Caernarfon
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Last contested in 1970

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Last contested in 1979

* Aberdare
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* Bedwellty
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* Cardiff South East
* Ceredigion
* Denbigh
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* 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
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* Preseli Pembrokeshire
* Rhondda
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* Vale of Clwyd

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