1999 National Assembly for Wales election

Last updated

1999 National Assembly for Wales election
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
6 May 1999 2003  

All 60 seats to the National Assembly for Wales
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout46.3%
 First partySecond party
  Alun Michael official portrait.jpg Official portrait of Dafydd Wigley AM.jpg
Leader Alun Michael Dafydd Wigley
Party Labour Plaid Cymru
Leader's seat Mid & West Wales Caernarfon
Seats won2817
FPTP Vote384,671290,572
Percentage37.6%28.4%
List Vote361,657312,048
Percentage35.4%30.5%

 Third partyFourth party
  Rodrogers1999.jpg Official portrait of Michael German AM.jpg
Leader Rod Richards Michael German
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat North Wales South Wales East
Seats won96
FPTP Vote162,133137,857
Percentage15.8%13.5%
List Vote168,206128,008
Percentage16.5%12.5%

1999 Senedd Election.svg

First Secretary after election

Alun Michael
Labour

The 1999 National Assembly for Wales election was held on Thursday 6 May 1999 to elect 60 members to the Senedd, at the time called the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh Parliament; Welsh : Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru). It was the first devolved general election held in Wales after the successful 1997 Welsh devolution referendum. The election was held alongside the Scottish Parliament election (also the first of its kind) and English local elections.

Although Welsh Labour were the biggest party, they did not gain enough seats to form a majority government and instead entered into coalition with the Liberal Democrats. The election was marked by the historically high level of support for Plaid Cymru, who won their highest share of the vote in any Wales-wide election and remains their highest number of seats in a Senedd election to date. The party won considerable support in traditionally safe Labour areas such as the South Wales Valleys, winning Rhondda and Islwyn and narrowly failing to win a number of other seats.

The overall turnout of voters was 46.3%. [1] This would remain the highest ever turnout for a devolved election in Wales until the 2021 Senedd election, which saw 46.6 of voters cast their ballot. [2]

Results map of the 1999 National Assembly election (regional list results). Welsh Assembly election 1999 regional lists results.svg
Results map of the 1999 National Assembly election (regional list results).

Election results

1999 Welsh Assembly election
Welsh assembly election 1999.svg
Parties Additional member system Total seats
ConstituencyRegion
Votes %+/−Seats+/−Votes %+/−Seats+/−Total+/− %
Labour 384,67137.6N/A27N/A361,65735.4N/A1N/A28N/A46.7
Plaid Cymru 290,57228.4N/A9N/A312,04830.5N/A8N/A17N/A28.3
Conservative 162,13315.8N/A1N/A168,20616.5N/A8N/A9N/A15.0
Liberal Democrats 137,85713.5N/A3N/A128,00812.5N/A3N/A6N/A10.0
Green 1,0020.1N/A0N/A25,8582.5N/A0N/A0N/A0
Socialist Labour -----10,7201.0N/A0N/A0N/A0
Natural Law -----3,8610.4N/A0N/A0N/A0
United Socialist3,9670.4N/A0N/A3,5900.4N/A0N/A0N/A0
Communist 6090.1N/A0N/A1,3660.1N/A0N/A0N/A0
Independent 30,5543.0N/A0N/A-----0N/A0
Independent Labour 4,1340.4N/A0N/A-----0N/A0
Others7,7360.8N/A0N/A4,6730.5N/A0N/A0N/A0
 Total1,023,22540 1,019,987 2060 

Votes summary

Popular vote
Labour
35.40%
Plaid Cymru
30.50%
Conservative
16.50%
Liberal Democrats
12.50%
Green
2.50%
Socialist Labour
1.00%
Others
1.60%
Parliament seats
Labour
46.67%
Plaid Cymru
28.33%
Conservative
15.00%
Liberal Democrats
10.00%

Constituency and regional summary

Mid and West Wales

1999 National Assembly for Wales election: Mid and West Wales
ConstituencyElected memberResult
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Rhodri Glyn Thomas Plaid Cymru gain
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Christine Gwyther Labour gain
Ceredigion Elin Jones Plaid Cymru gain
Llanelli Helen Mary Jones Plaid Cymru gain
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Dafydd Elis-Thomas Plaid Cymru gain
Montgomeryshire Mick Bates Liberal Democrats gain
Preseli Pembrokeshire Richard Edwards Labour gain
Brecon and Radnorshire Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrats gain
1999 National Assembly for Wales election: Mid and West Wales
PartyElected candidatesSeats+/−Votes%+/−%
Plaid Cymru Cynog Dafis 1N/A84,55438.55%N/A
Labour Alun Michael 1N/A53,84224.55%N/A
Conservative Nick Bourne
Edward Glyn Davies
2N/A36,62216.70%N/A
Liberal Democrats 0N/A31,68314.44%N/A
Green 0N/A7,7183.52%N/A
Socialist Labour 0N/A3,0191.38%N/A
Independent 0N/A1,2140.55%N/A
Natural Law 0N/A7050.32%N/A

North Wales

1999 National Assembly for Wales election: North Wales
ConstituencyElected memberResult
Alyn and Deeside Tom Middlehurst Labour gain
Caernarfon Dafydd Wigley Plaid Cymru gain
Clwyd South Karen Sinclair Labour gain
Clwyd West Alun Pugh Labour gain
Conwy Gareth Jones Plaid Cymru gain
Delyn Alison Halford Labour gain
Vale of Clwyd Margaret Ann Jones Labour gain
Wrexham John Marek Labour gain
Ynys Môn Ieuan Wyn Jones Plaid Cymru gain
1999 National Assembly for Wales election: North Wales
PartyElected candidatesSeats+/−Votes%+/−%
Labour 0N/A73,67334.19%N/A
Plaid Cymru Janet Ryder 1N/A69,51832.26%N/A
Conservative Rod Richards
Peter Rogers
2N/A41,70019.35%N/A
Liberal Democrats Christine Humphreys 1N/A22,13010.27%N/A
Green 0N/A4,6672.17%N/A
Rhuddlan Debt Protest Campaign0N/A1,3530.63%N/A
Natural Law 0N/A9170.43%N/A
Socialist Alliance 0N/A8280.38%N/A
Communist 0N/A7140.33%N/A

South Wales Central

1999 National Assembly for Wales election: South Wales Central
ConstituencyElected memberResult
Cardiff South and Penarth Lorraine Barrett Labour gain
Cardiff West Rhodri Morgan Labour gain
Cynon Valley Christine Chapman Labour gain
Pontypridd Jane Davidson Labour gain
Rhondda Geraint Rhys Davies Plaid Cymru gain
Vale of Glamorgan Jane Hutt Labour gain
Cardiff Central Jennifer Elizabeth Randerson Liberal Democrats gain
Cardiff North Sue Essex Labour gain
1999 National Assembly for Wales election: South Wales Central
PartyElected candidatesSeats+/−Votes%+/−%
Labour 0N/A79,56436.92%N/A
Plaid Cymru Pauline Jarman
Owen John Thomas
2N/A58,08026.95%N/A
Conservative Jonathan Morgan
David Melding
2N/A34,94416.22%N/A
Liberal Democrats 0N/A30,91114.35%N/A
Green 0N/A5,3362.48%N/A
Socialist Labour 0N/A2,8221.31%N/A
Independent 0N/A1,5240.71%N/A
Natural Law 0N/A6650.31%N/A
Communist 0N/A6520.30%N/A
Socialist Alliance 0N/A6020.28%N/A
Independent 0N/A3780.18%N/A

South Wales East

1999 National Assembly for Wales election: South Wales East
ConstituencyElected memberResult
Islwyn Brian Hancock Plaid Cymru gain
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Huw Lewis Labour gain
Monmouth David Thomas Charles Davies Conservative gain
Blaenau Gwent Peter Law Labour gain
Newport East John Griffiths Labour gain
Newport West Dame Rosemary Janet Mair Butler Labour gain
Torfaen Lynne Neagle Labour gain
Caerphilly Ron Davies Labour gain
1999 National Assembly for Wales election: South Wales East
PartyElected candidatesSeats+/−Votes%+/−%
Labour 0N/A83,95341.82%N/A
Plaid Cymru Jocelyn Davies
Professor Philip James Stradling Williams
2N/A49,13924.48%N/A
Conservative William Graham 1N/A33,94716.91%N/A
Liberal Democrats Michael James German 1N/A24,75712.33%N/A
Socialist Labour 0N/A4,8792.43%N/A
Green 0N/A4,0552.02%N/A

South Wales West

1999 National Assembly for Wales election: South Wales West
ConstituencyElected memberResult
Aberavon Brian Gibbons Labour gain
Gower Edwina Hart Labour gain
Neath Gwenda Thomas Labour gain
Ogmore Janice Gregory Labour gain
Swansea East Val Feld Labour gain
Swansea West Andrew Davies Labour gain
Bridgend Carwyn Jones Labour gain
1999 National Assembly for Wales election: South Wales West
PartyElected candidatesSeats+/−Votes%+/−%
Labour 0N/A70,62542.25%N/A
Plaid Cymru Janet Marion Davies
Dr David Rees Lloyd
2N/A50,75730.37%N/A
Conservative Alun Cairns 1N/A20,99312.56%N/A
Liberal Democrats Peter Black 1N/A18.52711.09%N/A
Green 0N/A4,0822.44%N/A
Socialist Alliance 0N/A1,2570.75%N/A
Natural Law 0N/A6760.40%N/A
People's Representative Party0N/A2040.12%N/A

Opinion polls

See also

Related Research Articles

Plaid Cymru is a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senedd</span> Devolved parliament of Wales

The Senedd, officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and Senedd Cymru in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees to certain taxes, and scrutinises the Welsh Government. It is a bilingual institution, with both Welsh and English being the official languages of its business. From its creation in May 1999 until May 2020, the Senedd was officially known as the National Assembly for Wales and often simply called the Welsh Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 National Assembly for Wales election</span>

The 2003 National Assembly for Wales election was the second general election to the National Assembly for Wales. It was held on 1 May 2003. The election was characterised by a resurgence for the Labour Party, whilst Plaid Cymru saw a reduction in support and the number of Assembly Members they returned. Having won thirty seats, one short of a majority, Labour chose to govern in minority without a coalition partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wales Green Party</span> Political party in Wales

The Wales Green Party is a semi-autonomous political party within the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW). It covers Wales, and is the only regional party with semi-autonomous status within the GPEW. The Wales Green Party puts up candidates for council, Senedd, and UK Parliament seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Wales</span> Political system

Politics in Wales forms a distinctive polity in the wider politics of the United Kingdom, with Wales as one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom (UK).

Welsh Labour, formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales, is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a plurality of the Welsh vote at every UK general election since 1922, every Assembly and Senedd election since 1999, and all elections to the European Parliament in the period 1979–2004 and in 2014. Welsh Labour holds 22 of the 40 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament, 30 of the 60 seats in the Welsh Senedd and 576 of the 1,264 councillors in principal local authorities including overall control of 10 of the 22 principal local authorities.

There are four types of elections in Wales: elections to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elections to the devolved Senedd, local elections to community councils and the 22 principal areas, and the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. In addition there are by-elections for each aforementioned election. Elections are held on Election Day, which is conventionally a Thursday. Since the passing of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 for UK general elections, all four types of elections are held after fixed periods, though early elections to the UK parliament can occur in certain situations, with Senedd elections being postponed to avoid elections to the UK parliament and Senedd coinciding with each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Central (Senedd constituency)</span> Constituency of the Senedd

Cardiff Central is a constituency of the Senedd. It elects one Member of the Senedd by the first past the post method of election. Also, however, it is one of eight constituencies in the South Wales Central electoral region, which elects four additional members, in addition to eight constituency members, to produce a degree of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh independence</span> Welsh political philosophy

Welsh independence is the political movement advocating for Wales to become a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom.

The Welsh Conservatives is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At Westminster elections, it is the second-most popular political party in Wales, having obtained the second-largest share of the vote at every general election since 1931. In Senedd elections, the Conservatives are currently the second-most supported party but have at times been third. They hold 14 of the 40 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament, and 16 of the 60 seats in the Senedd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 National Assembly for Wales election</span>

The 2011 National Assembly for Wales election was an election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the Assembly's seats. It was the fourth election for seats in the National Assembly for Wales, and the second election taken under the rules of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Politics of Cardiff refers to the political representation of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. Cardiff is represented politically at a local, Wales and United Kingdom level and previously at the European level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 National Assembly for Wales election</span>

The 2007 National Assembly for Wales election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, as well as the Scottish Parliament election took place. This election was preceded by the previous Assembly election in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 National Assembly for Wales election</span>

The 2016 National Assembly for Wales election was held on Thursday 5 May 2016, to elect members (AMs) of the National Assembly for Wales, now known as the Senedd. It was the fifth election for the National Assembly, the third election taken under the rules of the Government of Wales Act 2006 and the first since the Wales Act 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unionism in Wales</span> Overview of unionism in Wales

Unionism in Wales is the political view that supports a political union between Wales and the other countries of the United Kingdom. As well as the current state of the UK, unionism may also include support for Federalism in the United Kingdom and a United Kingdom Confederation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Members of the 5th National Assembly for Wales</span>

This is a list of Assembly Memberselected to the fifth National Assembly for Wales at the 2016 election. In May 2020, the representatives were renamed to Members of the Seneddin the fifth Senedd, they would be known as the fifth Senedd for the remainder of their term. From the 2021 election members would be elected under this new title of Senedd. There are a total of 60 members elected, 40 were elected from first past the post constituencies with a further 20 members being returned from five regions, each electing four AMs through mixed member proportional representation. In between elections, members of the legislature may not necessarily be of the same party or the same candidate elected in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Senedd election</span> General election held in Wales on 6 May 2021

The 2021 Senedd election took place on Thursday 6 May 2021 to elect 60 members to the Senedd. It was the sixth devolved general election since the Senedd was established in 1999. The election was held alongside the Scottish Parliament election, English local elections, London Assembly and mayoral election and the Hartlepool by-election.

In the run-up to the 2021 Senedd election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intentions. Results of such polls are displayed in this list. Most of the pollsters listed are members of the British Polling Council (BPC) and abide by its disclosure rules.

The next Senedd election is due to be held in or before May 2026 to elect 60 members to the Senedd. It will be the seventh devolved general election since the Senedd was established in 1999. It will also be the second election since the Senedd changed its name in May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh devolution</span> Transfer of legislative power to Welsh authorities from UK government

Welsh devolution is the transfer of legislative power for self-governance to Wales by the Government of the United Kingdom.

References

  1. Morgan, Bryn (12 May 1999). "Research Paper 99/51 – Welsh Assembly Elections: 6 May 1999". House of Commons Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  2. Clark, D. (9 July 2021). "Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) turnout rate 2021". Statista. Retrieved 4 March 2023.

Manifestos