Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Llanelli
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Llanelli2024Constituency.svg
Boundary of Llanelli in Wales
Preserved county Dyfed
Electorate 69,895 (March 2020) [1]
Major settlements Llanelli, Burry Port, Llangennech
Current constituency
Created 1918
Member of Parliament Nia Griffith (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from East Carmarthenshire
Overlaps
Senedd Llanelli, Mid and West Wales

Llanelli is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. [n 1] From 1918 to 1970 the official spelling of the constituency name was Llanelly. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It has been represented since 2005 by Nia Griffith of the Labour Party.

Contents

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

The constituency retained its name and gained wards, as part of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies and under the June 2023 final recommendations of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the 2024 general election. [2]

Boundaries

1918–1950: The constituency was established in 1918, as a division of Carmarthenshire, located in the south east of the county. This area had, until 1918, been the southern part of the constituency of East Carmarthenshire.

It consisted of the then local authority areas of the Municipal Borough of Llanelly; the Urban Districts of Ammanford, Burry Port and Cwmamman; the Rural Districts of Lanelly and part of Llandilofawr (namely the civil parishes of Betws, Llandybie and Quarter Bach, and Ward I of the civil parish of Llandilo Rural) [3]

The division bordered Carmarthen to the west and north, Brecon and Radnor to the north east, Neath to the east, Gower to the south east and the sea to the south.

1950–1974: In the next redistribution of constituencies in Wales, which took effect in 1950, the northern boundary of the constituency was slightly altered. Llanelly no longer bordered Brecon and Radnor and Gower was extended north and took over the part of the 1918 Neath constituency that had previously adjoined Carmarthenshire. The constituency area continued to include the same local authorities as in 1918 (apart from a spelling change to Llandilo for the part RDC included): [4]

At the 1970 general election the official spelling of the constituency name was altered to Llanelli. [5] This followed the change in name of both the borough and rural district in 1966. [6] [7] [8]

1974–1983: The constituency appears to have been unchanged by the redistribution. The local authorities remained the same (apart from spelling changes):

The substantial local government changes which took effect in 1974 did not affect this redistribution as it used the boundaries as they existed in November 1970 to construct parliamentary constituencies. [9]

1983–1997: The redistribution altered the constituency by 8.4%. 96.2% of the new constituency had been in the old one. 3.8% of the electors came from the former Carmarthen constituency.

The area now formed part of the new county of Dyfed. The district level local government units contained in the constituency were the Borough of Llanelli and Wards 2–6 and 9 of the Borough of Dinefwr.

1997–2010: In this redistribution the constituency was reduced so that it covered the same area as the Borough of Llanelli.

2010–2024: With effect from the United Kingdom general election in May 2010, the constituency comprised the Carmarthenshire County electoral wards of Bigyn, Burry Port, Bynea, Dafen, Elli, Felinfoel, Glanymor, Glyn, Hendy, Hengoed, Kidwelly, Llangennech, Llannon, Lliedi, Llwynhendy, Pembrey, Pontyberem, Swiss Valley, Trimsaran, Tycroes, and Tyisha.

The constituency included the whole of 9 Carmarthenshire communities (Kidwelly; Llanedi; Llanelli; Llanelli Rural; Llangennech; Llannon; Pembrey and Burry Port Town; Pontyberem; and Trimsaran).

Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)
Interactive map of current boundaries

2024–present: Under the 2023 review, drawn up in accordance with the ward structure in existence on 1 December 2020, the constituency was defined as comprising the wards above, plus Gorslas, Llangyndeyrn and St.Ishmael, transferred from the abolished constituency of Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2022, [10] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the County of Carmarthenshire from the 2024 general election: [11]

History

Llanelli has traditionally been an ultra-safe Labour seat, with a Labour MP representing the constituency since 1922. It was represented by one-time deputy leader of the Labour Party, Jim Griffiths, from 1936 until his retirement in 1970. In recent years however Labour's majority had been somewhat eroded by Plaid Cymru, who as of 2021 have won the equivalent seat in the Senedd in two of the six Senedd elections to date. At the 2015 general election, however, the Labour majority increased once again and in 2017 it increased further to nearly 30% with the Conservatives replacing Plaid Cymru in second place. At the 2019 general election, there was a swing of 8.8% from Labour to Conservative but the latter's vote collapsed in 2024, allowing Reform UK to take second place and reducing Labour's majority to 1,504 (3.7%).

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [12] Party
1918 Josiah Towyn Jones Coalition Liberal
1922 John Henry Williams Labour
1936 by-election Jim Griffiths Labour
1970 Denzil Davies Labour
2005 Nia Griffith Labour

Elections

Llanelli election results Llanelli election results.png
Llanelli election results

Elections in the 1910s

Jones 1921 Josiah Towyn Jones.jpg
Jones
General election 1918: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Liberal Josiah Towyn Jones 16,34453.1N/A
Labour John Williams 14,40946.9N/A
Majority 1,9356.2N/A
Turnout 30,75368.9N/A
Registered electors 30,753
Liberal win (new seat)
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Williams 23,213 59.3 +12.4
National Liberal George Clark Williams 15,94740.7−12.4
Majority 7,26618.6N/A
Turnout 39,16080.3+11.4
Registered electors 49,795
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +12.4
General election 1923: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Williams 21,603 55.1 −4.2
Liberal Richard Thomas Evans 11,76530.7−10.0
Unionist Lionel Beaumont-Thomas 5,44214.2N/A
Majority 9,29824.4+5.8
Turnout 38,81076.8−3.5
Registered electors 49,825
Labour hold Swing
General election 1924: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Williams 20,516 52.9 −2.8
Liberal Richard Thomas Evans 18,25947.1+16.4
Majority 2,2595.8−18.6
Turnout 38,77575.7−1.8
Registered electors 51,213
Labour hold Swing
General election 1929: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Williams 28,595 55.4 +2.5
Liberal Richard Thomas Evans 19,07536.9−10.2
Unionist James Purdon Lewes Thomas 3,9697.7N/A
Majority 9,52018.5+12.7
Turnout 51,63979.1+3.4
Registered electors 65,255
Labour hold Swing +6.3

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Williams 34,196 65.3 +9.9
Conservative Frank J. Rees18,16334.7+27.0
Majority 16,03330.6+12.1
Turnout 52,35978.1−1.0
Registered electors 67,047
Labour hold Swing
General election 1935: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Williams Unopposed
Registered electors 70,380
Labour hold
1936 Llanelli by-election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 32,188 66.8 N/A
National Liberal William Albert Jenkins 15,96733.3N/A
Majority 16,22133.5N/A
Turnout 48,15568.4N/A
Registered electors 70,380
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Llanelly [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 44,514 81.1 N/A
Conservative G O George10,39718.9N/A
Majority 34,11762.2N/A
Turnout 54,91174.9N/A
Registered electors 73,728
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Llanelly [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 39,326 70.8 −10.3
Liberal Huw Thomas 7,70013.9N/A
Conservative D P Owen6,36211.5−7.4
Plaid Cymru David Eirwyn Morgan 2,1343.8N/A
Majority 31,62656.9−5.3
Turnout 55,52280.9+6.0
Registered electors 68,655
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Llanelly [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 39,731 72.5 +1.7
Conservative Henry Gardner11,31520.6+9.1
Plaid Cymru David Eirwyn Morgan 3,7656.9+3.1
Majority 28,41651.9−5.0
Turnout 54,81181.6+0.7
Registered electors 67,157
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Llanelly [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 34,021 66.6 −5.9
Conservative Trevor Skeet 10,64020.8+0.2
Plaid Cymru David Eirwyn Morgan 6,39812.5+5.6
Majority 23,38145.8−6.1
Turnout 51,05978.7−2.9
Registered electors 64,858
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Llanelly [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 34,625 66.7 +0.1
Conservative Henry Gardner10,12819.5−0.7
Plaid Cymru David Eirwyn Morgan 7,17613.8+1.3
Majority 24,49747.2−4.6
Turnout 51,92981.1+2.4
Registered electors 64,048
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Llanelly [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 32,546 65.9 +0.8
Conservative Philip A. Maybury6,30012.8−6.7
Liberal Esyr G. Lewis6,03112.2N/A
Plaid Cymru Pennar Davies 3,4697.0−6.8
Communist Robert E. Hitchon1,0612.2N/A
Majority 26,24653.1+5.9
Turnout 49,40779.4−1.7
Registered electors 62,235
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Llanelly [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jim Griffiths 33,674 71.4 +5.5
Conservative Jeremy C. Peel7,14315.2+2.4
Plaid Cymru Pennar Davies 5,13210.9+3.9
Communist Robert E. Hitchon1,2112.6+0.4
Majority 26,53156.2+3.1
Turnout 47,16076.2−3.2
Registered electors 61,868
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Llanelli [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 31,398 62.8 −8.6
Plaid Cymru Carwyn James 8,38716.8+5.9
Conservative Mary A. Jones5,77711.6−3.6
Liberal Donald Lewis3,8347.7N/A
Communist Robert E. Hitchon6031.2−1.4
Majority 23,01146.0−10.2
Turnout 49,99977.3+1.1
Registered electors 64,650
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Llanelli [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 28,941 57.8 −5.0
Conservative G Richards7,49615.0+3.4
Liberal E J Evans7,14014.3+6.6
Plaid Cymru R Williams6,06012.0−4.8
Communist Robert E. Hitchon5071.0−0.2
Majority 23,01146.0±0.0
Turnout 50,14477.3±0.0
Registered electors 64,076
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Llanelli [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 29,474 59.4 +2.6
Liberal Michael Willis Gimblett7,17314.5+0.2
Plaid Cymru R Williams6,79713.7+1.7
Conservative G Richards6,14112.4−2.6
Majority 22,30145.0−1.0
Turnout 49,58576.9−0.4
Registered electors 64,495
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Llanelli [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 30,416 59.5 +0.1
Conservative G D J Richards10,47120.5+8.1
Liberal Kenneth Rees5,85611.5−3.0
Plaid Cymru H Roberts3,7937.4−6.3
Communist Robert E. Hitchon6171.2N/A
Majority 19,94539.0−6.0
Turnout 51,15379.4+2.5
Registered electors 64,429
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Llanelli [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 23,207 48.2 −11.3
Conservative Nicholas Kennedy9,60120.0−0.5
Alliance (Liberal)Kenneth Rees9,07618.9+7.4
Plaid Cymru Hywel Teifi Edwards 5,88012.2+4.8
Communist Robert E. Hitchon3710.8−0.4
Majority 13,60628.3−10.7
Turnout 48,13575.4−4.0
Registered electors 63,826
Labour hold Swing
General election 1987: Llanelli [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 29,506 59.2 +11.0
Conservative Philip Circus8,57117.2−2.8
Alliance (Liberal)Martyn Shrewsbury6,71413.5−5.4
Plaid Cymru Adrian Price5,08810.2−2.0
Majority 20,93542.0+13.7
Turnout 49,87978.1+2.7
Registered electors 63,845
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Llanelli [20] [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 27,802 55.0 −4.2
Conservative Graham L. Down8,53216.9−0.3
Plaid Cymru Marc Phillips 7,87815.6+5.4
Liberal Democrats Keith L. Evans6,40412.7−0.8
Majority 19,27038.1−3.9
Turnout 50,61677.8−0.3
Registered electors 65,058
Labour hold Swing −2.0
General election 1997: Llanelli [22] [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 28,851 57.9 +2.9
Plaid Cymru Marc Phillips 7,81219.0+3.4
Conservative Andrew Hayes5,00312.1−4.8
Liberal Democrats Nick Burree3,7889.2−3.5
Socialist Labour John Willock7571.8N/A
Majority 21,03938.9+0.9
Turnout 41,21170.7−7.1
Registered electors 58,293
Labour hold Swing −0.1

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Llanelli [24] [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Denzil Davies 17,586 48.6 −9.3
Plaid Cymru Dyfan Jones11,18330.9+11.9
Conservative Simon Hayes3,4429.5−2.6
Liberal Democrats Ken Rees3,0658.5−0.7
Green Jan Cliff5151.4N/A
Socialist Labour John Willock4071.1−0.7
Majority 6,40317.7−21.2
Turnout 36,19862.3−8.4
Registered electors 58,148
Labour hold Swing -10.6
General election 2005: Llanelli [26] [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nia Griffith 16,592 46.9 −1.7
Plaid Cymru Neil Baker9,35826.5−4.4
Conservative Adrian Phillips4,84413.7+4.2
Liberal Democrats Ken Rees4,55012.9+4.4
Majority 7,23420.4+2.7
Turnout 35,34463.5+1.2
Registered electors 55,280
Labour hold Swing +1.4

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2010: Llanelli [28] [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nia Griffith 15,916 42.5 −4.4
Plaid Cymru Myfanwy Davies11,21529.9+3.4
Conservative Christopher Salmon 5,38114.4+0.7
Liberal Democrats Myrddin Edwards3,90210.4−2.5
UKIP Andrew Marshall1,0472.8N/A
Majority 4,70112.6−7.8
Turnout 37,46167.3+3.8
Registered electors 55,637
Labour hold Swing −4.0
General election 2015: Llanelli [30] [31] [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nia Griffith [33] 15,948 41.3 −1.2
Plaid Cymru Vaughan Williams [34] 8,85323.0−6.9
UKIP Kenneth Rees6,26916.3+13.5
Conservative Selaine Saxby [35] 5,53414.3−0.1
Liberal Democrats Cen Phillips [36] 7511.9−8.5
Green Guy Smith6891.8N/A
People FirstSiân Caiach [37] 4071.1N/A
TUSC Scott Jones1230.3N/A
Majority 7,09518.3+5.7
Turnout 38,57464.5−2.8
Registered electors 59,314
Labour hold Swing +2.9
General election 2017: Llanelli [38] [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nia Griffith 21,568 53.5 +12.2
Conservative Stephen Davies9,54423.7+9.4
Plaid Cymru Mari Arthur7,35118.2−4.8
UKIP Kenneth Rees1,3313.3−13.0
Liberal Democrats Rory Daniels5481.4−0.5
Majority 12,02429.8+11.5
Turnout 40,34267.0+2.5
Registered electors 60,185
Labour hold Swing +1.4
General election 2019: Llanelli [40] [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nia Griffith 16,125 42.2 −11.3
Conservative Tamara Reay11,45530.0+6.3
Plaid Cymru Mari Arthur7,04818.4+0.2
Brexit Party Susan Boucher3,6059.4N/A
Rejected ballots152
Majority 4,67012.2−17.6
Turnout 38,23363.2−3.8
Registered electors 60,513
Labour hold Swing -8.8

Of the 152 rejected ballots:

2019 notional result [n 2] [42]
PartyVote %
Labour 17,25639.3
Conservative 13,46330.7
Plaid Cymru 9,28021.1
Brexit Party 3,8938.9
Majority3,7938.6
Turnout43,89262.8
Electorate69,895

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Llanelli [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nia Griffith 12,751 31.3 −8.0
Reform UK Gareth Beer11,24727.6+18.7
Plaid Cymru Rhodri Davies9,51123.3+2.2
Conservative Charlie Evans4,27510.5−20.2
Liberal Democrats Chris Passmore1,2543.1N/A
Green Karen Laurence1,1062.7N/A
UKIP Stan Robinson6001.5N/A
Majority 1,5043.7−7.5
Turnout 40,74457.0−5.8
Registered electors 71,536
Labour hold Swing −13.4

See also

Notes

  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. Estimate of the 2019 general election result as if the revised boundaries recommended under the 2023 boundary review were in place

References

  1. Mrs Justice Jefford; Thomas, Huw Vaughan; Hartley, Sam A (June 2023). "Appendix 1: Recommended Constituencies" (PDF). The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales. Cardiff: Boundary Commission for Wales. p. 250. ISBN   978-1-5286-3901-9 . Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
  3. Representation of the People Act 1918, Ninth Schedule, Part II, Parliamentary Counties: Wales and Monmouthshire.
  4. Schedule 1, Representation of the People Act 1948, c. 65.
  5. "Over 1,800 candidates for 630 seats in Commons". The Times . 9 June 1970. p. 10.
  6. The borough was renamed on 4 March 1966 and the rural district on 3 May 1966 Census of England and Wales 1961. County Report: Carmarthenshire. HMSO.
  7. "No. 43915". The London Gazette . 4 March 1966. p. 2444.
  8. Llanelli is the spelling Craig uses in his compilation of results from 1950–1973, despite the entry in his book on parliamentary boundaries for the 1950 redistribution following the statute in using Llanelly.
  9. 1 2 The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1970 (1970/1675).
  10. "The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021".
  11. "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  12. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 3)
  13. 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 552
  14. 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 571
  15. "Politics Resources". Election February 1974. Politics Resources. 28 February 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. "Politics Resources". Election October 1974. Politics Resources. 10 October 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 3 May 1979. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "BBC NEWS>VOTE 2001>Results and Constituencies>Llanelli". Vote 2001. BBC News. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  24. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. "BBC NEWS > Llanelli". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  26. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. "Llanelli parliamentary constituency - Election 2005" via www.bbc.co.uk.
  28. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  29. "Election 2010 – Llanelli". BBC News.
  30. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  31. "Llanelli result". The Newsroom. Carmarthenshire County Council. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  32. "Llanelli Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  33. "Nia Griffith". 1 March 2010.
  34. "Local Llanelli members select Plaid Cymru's Williams as Westminster candidate". Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  35. "Llanelli - Selaine Saxby". www.selainesaxby.com.
  36. "Cen Phillips". Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  37. Shipton, Martin (5 January 2015). "Maverick independent Sian Caiach to contest Llanelli at the General Election". walesonline.
  38. "Aberavon Parliamentary constituency". Election 2017 Results. BBC . Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  39. "2017 Results". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  40. "Llanelli Parliamentary constituency". Election 2019 Results. BBC. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  41. 1 2 3 "Election-Results/General-Election-2019" (PDF). Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  42. "Llanelli notional election - December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  43. "Election of Member of Parliament to UK Parliament - Llanelli Constituency - Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated" (PDF). Carmarthenshire County Council. 7 June 2024.

Further reading

51°43′14″N4°13′33″W / 51.72056°N 4.22583°W / 51.72056; -4.22583