Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency)

In this article, we will explore the topic of Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency) in depth, analyzing its origins, evolution, relevance today and possible future developments. Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency) is a topic widely discussed and studied in different areas, arousing the interest of academics, researchers, professionals and the general public. Throughout history, Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency) has played a crucial role in various contexts, significantly influencing society, culture and everyday life. Through a comprehensive analysis, we will address the different perspectives and approaches that have been used to understand Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency), as well as the implications and challenges it currently poses. Through this article, we seek to offer a comprehensive vision of Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency) and its impact on society, promoting a constructive and enriching debate on this very relevant topic.
Not to be confused with Aberavon (Senedd constituency).

Aberavon
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Aberavon in Wales for the 2019 general election
Preserved countyWest Glamorgan
Population66,133 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate50,747 (December 2019)
Major settlementsPort Talbot
1918–2024
SeatsOne
Created fromSwansea District and Mid Glamorganshire
Replaced byAberafan Maesteg, Neath and Swansea East
SeneddAberavon, South Wales West

Aberavon (Welsh: Aberafan) was a constituency in Wales in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was represented from 1922 until 2024 by the Welsh Labour Party. It included the town of Aberavon, although the largest town in the constituency was Port Talbot.

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 general election. Its area was split between Aberafan Maesteg and Neath and Swansea East.[2]

History

The constituency was created for the 1918 general election by the dividing of the Swansea District. With the exception of the first term, it has always been held by the Labour Party. Ramsay MacDonald, who became Labour's first Prime Minister in 1924, held the seat from 1922 to 1929. Its final MP, Stephen Kinnock, is the son of Neil Kinnock, who was Labour leader and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 to 1992.

It was one of the most consistently safe seats for Labour; since the end of the Second World War, the Labour candidate had always won Aberavon with a majority at least 33%, and with the exception of 2015, the Labour candidate has also always won an overall majority of the vote in the seat. In 2015, Kinnock only won 48.9% of the vote in Aberavon, against a surge in the vote for the UKIP candidate; however, in 2017, Kinnock's vote share rose by 19.2 percentage points, the biggest increase in the Labour vote in the seat's history, and his majority increased to 50.4%, the highest for an Aberavon MP since 2001. The 2017 result also made Aberavon the safest Labour seat in Wales, however the seat saw a significant swing against Labour in 2019.

Boundaries

Map
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

1918–1950: The Borough of Aberavon, the Urban Districts of Briton Ferry, Glencorwg, Margam, and Porthcawl and part of the Rural Districts of Neath and Penybont.

1950–1983: The Borough of Port Talbot, the Urban Districts of Glyncorrwg and Porthcawl, and part of the Rural District of Penybont.

1983–1997: The Borough of Afan, and the Borough of Neath wards nos. 3 and 6.

1997–2010: The Borough of Port Talbot; and the Borough of Neath wards of Briton Ferry East, Briton Ferry West, Coedffranc Central, Coedffranc North, and Coedffranc West.

2010–2024: The Neath Port Talbot County Borough electoral divisions of Aberavon, Baglan, Briton Ferry East, Briton Ferry West, Bryn and Cwmavon, Coedffranc Central, Coedffranc North, Coedffranc West, Cymmer, Glyncorrwg, Gwynfi, Margam, Port Talbot, Sandfields East, Sandfields West, and Tai-bach.

The constituency was in South Wales, situated on the right bank of the River Afan, near its mouth in Swansea Bay.

Commenting on the 1983 boundary changes to the constituency when moving the 2000 Loyal Address of the Blair Government in Parliament, the seat's then-MP Sir John Morris, who would retire at the 2001 general election, said:

"It is a happy tradition on this occasion to refer to one's constituency and to the people who sent one here....Whatever may occur in future, I would deplore the loss of the Member-constituency link. When, after 23 years, I lost part of my constituency, I missed the friendship of two generations. My constituents and I had grown up and grown older together."

Members of Parliament

Election Member[3] Party
1918 Jack Edwards Coalition Liberal
1922 Rt Hon. Ramsay MacDonald Labour
1929 William Cove
1959 Sir John Morris
2001 Hywel Francis
2015 Stephen Kinnock
2024 Constituency abolished

Elections

Aberavon Election Results 1918–2019

Elections in the 1910s

1918 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C National Liberal Jack Edwards 13,635 62.8 N/A
Labour Robert Williams 7,758 35.7 N/A
NFDDSS T G Jones 324 1.5 N/A
Majority 5,877 27.1 N/A
Turnout 21,697 71.4 N/A
Registered electors 30,415
National Liberal win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
  • Jones withdrew in favour of Edwards on 13 December 1918.

Elections in the 1920s

1922 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ramsay MacDonald 14,318 46.6 +10.9
Unionist Sidney Hutchinson Byass 11,111 36.1 N/A
National Liberal Jack Edwards 5,238 17.3 −45.5
Majority 3,207 10.5 N/A
Turnout 30,667 88.6 +17.2
Registered electors 34,716
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +28.2
1923 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ramsay MacDonald 17,439 55.6 +9.0
Unionist Sidney Hutchinson Byass 13,927 44.4 +8.3
Majority 3,512 11.2 +0.7
Turnout 31,366 87.2 −1.4
Registered electors 39,750
Labour hold Swing +0.3
1924 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ramsay MacDonald 17,724 53.1 −2.5
Liberal William Henry Williams 15,624 46.9 N/A
Majority 2,100 6.2 −5.0
Turnout 33,348 89.6 +2.4
Registered electors 37,200
Labour hold Swing
Ramsay MacDonald
1929 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove 22,194 55.9 +2.8
Liberal William Henry Williams 13,155 33.2 −13.7
Unionist Francis Bertram Reece 4,330 10.9 N/A
Majority 9,039 22.7 +16.5
Turnout 39,679 87.0 −2.6
Registered electors 45,613
Labour hold Swing +8.2
Henry Williams

Elections in the 1930s

1931 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove 23,029 58.4 +2.5
Liberal Edward Curran 16,378 41.6 +8.4
Majority 6,651 16.9 −5.8
Turnout 39,407 84.4 −2.6
Registered electors 46,689
Labour hold Swing −3.0
1935 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove Unopposed
Registered electors 49,729
Labour hold

Elections in the 1940s

1945 general election: Aberavon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove 31,286 72.5 N/A
Conservative David Llewellyn 11,860 27.5 N/A
Majority 19,426 45.0 N/A
Turnout 43,146 79.4 N/A
Registered electors 54,323
Labour hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1950s

1950 general election: Aberavon[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove 29,278 68.7 −3.8
National Liberal Auberon Herbert 8,091 19.0 −8.5
Liberal Maldwyn Thomas 5,263 12.3 N/A
Majority 21,187 49.7 +4.7
Turnout 42,634 85.8 +6.4
Registered electors 49,667
Labour hold Swing +2.3
1951 general election: Aberavon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove 30,498 72.0 +3.3
Conservative John Loveridge 11,878 28.0 +9.0
Majority 18,620 44.0 −5.7
Turnout 42,376 84.6 −1.2
Registered electors 50,071
Labour hold Swing −2.9
1955 general election: Aberavon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Cove 29,003 69.5 −2.5
Conservative Geoffrey Howe 12,706 30.5 +2.5
Majority 16,297 39.0 −5.0
Turnout 41,709 79.3 −5.3
Registered electors 52,616
Labour hold Swing −2.4
1959 general election: Aberavon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 30,397 65.8 −3.7
Conservative Geoffrey Howe 12,759 27.6 −2.9
Plaid Cymru Illtyd M. Lewis 3,066 6.6 N/A
Majority 17,638 38.2 −0.8
Turnout 46,222 82.1 +2.8
Registered electors 56,316
Labour hold Swing −0.5

Elections in the 1960s

1964 general election: Aberavon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 33,103 72.2 +6.4
Conservative John Stradling Thomas 9,424 20.5 −7.1
Plaid Cymru Glyn John 2,118 4.6 −2.0
Communist Julian Tudor Hart 1,260 2.7 N/A
Majority 23,679 51.7 +13.5
Turnout 45,905 80.8 −1.3
Registered electors 56,777
Labour hold Swing +6.7
1966 general election: Aberavon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 33,763 75.5 +3.3
Conservative Robert Hicks 9,369 20.9 +0.4
Communist Julian Tudor Hart 1,620 3.6 +0.9
Majority 24,394 54.6 +2.9
Turnout 45,146 78.3 −2.5
Registered electors 57,179
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

1970 general election: Aberavon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 31,314 67.0 −8.5
Conservative Ian Grist 10,419 22.3 +1.4
Plaid Cymru Graham Farmer 3,912 8.4 N/A
Communist Julian Tudor Hart 1,102 2.3 −1.3
Majority 20,895 44.7 −9.9
Turnout 46,747 74.8 −3.5
Registered electors 62,516
Labour hold Swing
February 1974 general election: Aberavon[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 31,656 65.2 −1.8
Conservative Peter Hubbard-Miles 10,968 22.6 +0.3
Plaid Cymru D G Foster 5,898 12.2 +3.8
Majority 20,688 42.6 −2.1
Turnout 48,522 75.6 +0.8
Registered electors 64,162
Labour hold Swing −1.0
October 1974 general election: Aberavon[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 29,683 62.8 −2.4
Conservative Nigel K Hammond 7,931 16.8 −5.8
Liberal Sheila M. Cutts 5,178 11.0 N/A
Plaid Cymru Geraint Thomas 4,032 8.5 −3.7
Workers Revolutionary J Bevan 427 0.9 N/A
Majority 21,752 46.0 +3.4
Turnout 47,251 73.1 −2.5
Registered electors 64,667
Labour hold Swing +1.7
1979 general election: Aberavon[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 31,665 61.7 −1.1
Conservative F McCarthy 12,692 24.7 +7.9
Liberal Sheila M. Cutts 4,624 9.0 −2.0
Plaid Cymru Geraint Thomas 1,954 3.8 −4.7
Communist G Rowden 406 0.8 N/A
Majority 18,973 37.0 −9.0
Turnout 47,179 79.2 +6.1
Registered electors 64,864
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

1983 general election: Aberavon[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 23,745 58.8 −2.9
Liberal Sheila M. Cutts 8,206 20.3 +11.3
Conservative George Bailey 6,605 16.3 −8.4
Plaid Cymru Glenn Phillips 1,859 4.6 +0.8
Majority 15,539 38.5 +1.5
Turnout 40,415 75.6 −3.6
Registered electors 53,443
Labour hold Swing
1987 general election: Aberavon[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 27,126 66.8 +8.0
Liberal Marilyn Harris 6,517 16.0 −4.3
Conservative Paul Warwick 5,861 14.4 −1.9
Plaid Cymru Anne Howells 1,124 2.8 −1.8
Majority 20,609 50.8 +12.3
Turnout 40,628 77.7 +2.1
Registered electors 52,280
Labour hold Swing +6.1

Elections in the 1990s

1992 general election: Aberavon[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 26,877 67.1 +0.3
Conservative Hywel Williams 5,567 13.9 −0.5
Liberal Democrats Marilyn Harris 4,999 12.5 −3.5
Plaid Cymru David W. J. Saunders 1,919 4.8 +2.0
Real Bean Captain Beany 707 1.8 N/A
Majority 21,310 53.2 +2.4
Turnout 40,069 77.6 −0.1
Registered electors 51,650
Labour hold Swing +0.4
1997 general election: Aberavon[14][15][16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Morris 25,650 71.3 +4.2
Liberal Democrats Ronald McConville 4,079 11.3 −1.2
Conservative Peter Harper 2,835 7.9 −6.0
Plaid Cymru Philip Cockwell 2,088 5.8 +1.0
Referendum Peter David 970 2.7 N/A
Independent Captain Beany 341 1.0 −0.8
Majority 21,571 60.0 +9.6
Turnout 35,963 71.9 −5.7
Registered electors 50,031
Labour hold Swing +1.6

Elections in the 2000s

2001 general election: Aberavon[18][19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hywel Francis 19,063 63.1 −8.2
Plaid Cymru Lisa Turnbull 2,955 9.8 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Christopher Davies 2,933 9.7 −1.6
Conservative Ali Miraj 2,296 7.6 −0.3
Independent Andrew Tutton 1,960 6.5 N/A
New Millennium Bean Captain Beany 727 2.4 +1.4
Socialist Alliance Martin Chapman 256 0.8 N/A
Majority 16,108 53.3 −6.7
Turnout 30,190 61.0 −10.9
Registered electors 49,524
Labour hold Swing −6.1
2005 general election: Aberavon[21][22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hywel Francis 18,077 60.0 −3.1
Liberal Democrats Claire Waller 4,140 13.8 +4.1
Plaid Cymru Philip Evans 3,545 11.8 +2.0
Conservative Annunziata Rees-Mogg 3,064 10.2 +2.6
Veritas Jim Wright 768 2.6 N/A
Green Miranda La Vey 510 1.7 N/A
Majority 13,937 46.2 −7.1
Turnout 30,104 58.9 −1.9
Registered electors 50,685
Labour hold Swing −3.6

Elections in the 2010s

2010 general election: Aberavon[24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hywel Francis 16,073 51.9 −8.1
Liberal Democrats Keith Davies 5,034 16.3 +2.5
Conservative Caroline Jones 4,411 14.2 +4.1
Plaid Cymru Paul Nicholls-Jones 2,198 7.1 −4.7
BNP Kevin Edwards 1,276 4.1 N/A
Independent Andrew Tutton 919 3.0 N/A
New Millennium Bean Party Captain Beany 558 1.8 N/A
UKIP Joe Callan 489 1.6 N/A
Rejected ballots 44
Majority 11,039 35.7 −10.5
Turnout 30,958 61.0 +2.1
Registered electors 50,838
Labour hold Swing −5.3

Of the 44 rejected ballots:

  • 29 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[24]
  • 14 voted for more than one candidate.[24]
  • 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[24]
Stephen Kinnock
2015 general election: Aberavon[27][28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Kinnock 15,416 48.9 −3.0
UKIP Peter Bush 4,971 15.8 +14.2
Conservative Edward Yi He 3,742 11.9 −2.3
Plaid Cymru Duncan Higgitt 3,663 11.6 +4.5
Liberal Democrats Helen Ceri-Clarke 1,397 4.4 −11.9
Independent Captain Beany 1,137 3.6 +1.8
Green Jonathan Tier 711 2.3 N/A
Socialist Labour Andrew Jordan 352 1.1 N/A
TUSC Owen Herbert 134 0.4 N/A
Rejected ballots 57
Majority 10,445 33.1 −2.6
Turnout 31,523 63.3 +2.3
Registered electors 49,821
Labour hold Swing −8.6

Of the 57 rejected ballots:

  • 37 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[27]
  • 20 voted for more than one candidate.[27]
2017 general election: Aberavon[30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Kinnock 22,662 68.1 +19.2
Conservative Sadie Vidal 5,901 17.7 +5.8
Plaid Cymru Andrew Bennison 2,761 8.3 −3.3
UKIP Caroline Jones 1,345 4.0 −11.8
Liberal Democrats Cen Phillips 599 1.8 −2.6
Rejected ballots 57
Majority 16,761 50.4 +17.3
Turnout 33,268 66.7 +3.4
Registered electors 49,892
Labour hold Swing +6.7

Of the 57 rejected ballots:

  • 41 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[30]
  • 16 voted for more than one candidate.[30]
2019 general election: Aberavon[32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stephen Kinnock 17,008 53.8 −14.3
Conservative Charlotte Lang 6,518 20.6 +2.9
Brexit Party Glenda Davies 3,108 9.8 N/A
Plaid Cymru Nigel Hunt 2,711 8.6 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Sheila Kingston-Jones 1,072 3.4 +1.6
Independent Captain Beany 731 2.3 N/A
Green Giorgia Finney 450 1.4 N/A
Rejected ballots 82
Majority 10,490 33.2 −17.2
Turnout 31,598 62.3 −4.4
Registered electors 50,747
Labour hold Swing −8.6

Of the 82 rejected ballots:

  • 61 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[32]
  • 19 voted for more than one candidate.[32]
  • 2 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (1 ed.). Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-019. Page 556
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British parliamentary election results 1950-1970 (1 ed.). Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 9780900178023. Page 576
  6. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
  7. ^ "Politics Resources". Election February 1974. Politics Resources. 28 February 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Politics Resources". Election October 1974. Politics Resources. 10 October 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 3 May 1979. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  14. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  16. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p. 120 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995).
  17. ^ "BBC NEWS>VOTE 2001>Results and Constituencies>Aberavon". Vote 2001. BBC News. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  20. ^ "BBC NEWS > Aberavon". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  23. ^ "Aberavon parliamentary constituency - Election 2005" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  24. ^ a b c d "Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Aberavon". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  27. ^ a b c "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Aberavon and Neath Results" (PDF). UK Parliamentary Elections May 2015 results. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  29. ^ "Aberavon Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  30. ^ a b c "Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Aberavon Parliamentary constituency". Election 2017 Results. BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  32. ^ a b c d "Results". Neath Port Talbot Council. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  33. ^ "Aberavon Parliamentary constituency". Election 2019 Results. BBC. Retrieved 23 December 2019.

Further reading

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the prime minister
22 January – 4 November 1924 		Succeeded by

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