Blaenau Gwent
2005 Results:
Independent: 20505 (58.2%)
Labour: 11384 (32.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 1511 (4.3%)
Plaid Cymru: 843 (2.4%)
Conservative: 816 (2.3%)
Other: 20697 (58.7%)
Majority: 9313 (26.4%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 2383 (7.5%)
Labour: 22855 (72%)
Liberal Democrat: 2945 (9.3%)
Plaid Cymru: 3542 (11.2%)
Majority: 19313 (60.9%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 2607 (6.6%)
Labour: 31493 (79.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 3458 (8.7%)
Plaid Cymru: 2072 (5.2%)
Majority: 28035 (70.7%)
No Boundary Changes
Profile: Traditionally a solid, south wales mining seat, seeped in Labour tradition. It is the successor seat to Ebbw Vale, represented by Nye Bevan and Michael Foot, and until recently was assumed to be amongst the most solid Labour seats in the country, with opposition parties normally struggling to get over 10% of the vote. The main towns are Abertilley, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar. The coal mines are now long gone and in 2002 the Corus steel plant here closed, causing further economic hardship.
In 2005 it was, in what must count as one of the most surprising results of the election, won by Peter Law, standing as an independent candidate. Law was the Labour member of the Welsh assembly for the seat and an ally of Llew Smith, the left-wing Labour MP who stood down at the 2005 election. Llew Smith’s replacement, Maggie Jones, who was selected from an all-woman shortlist - something which Smith believed was used to block the selection of a non-Blairite male candidate. Law ran despite suffering from a brain tumour and died less than a year after his election. His agent Dai Davies successfully defended the seat in the ensuing by-election, with his widow Trish Law managing to hold his seat in the Welsh election.
Current MP: Dai Davies (Independent) born 1959, Blaenau Gwent. Former electrician at Corus steel works and shop steward. Leader of the Blaenau Gwent People’s Voice Group, the party set up by supporters of Peter Law. Agent for Peter Law in the 2005 general election, first elected as MP for Blaenau Gwent in the 2006 by-election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Nick Smith (Labour) Former Labour party official and NSPCC Campaigns manager. Former Camden councillor.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 70064
Male: 48.5%
Female: 51.5%
Under 18: 24%
Over 60: 22.2%
Born outside UK: 1.1%
White: 99.2%
Asian: 0.3%
Mixed: 0.3%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 64.2%
Full time students: 2.2%
Graduates 16-74: 9.3%
No Qualifications 16-74: 45%
Owner-Occupied: 62.6%
Social Housing: 28.9% (Council: 24.3%, Housing Ass.: 4.5%)
Privately Rented: 6.1%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 2.7%
2006 By-election
The Blaneau Gwent by-election was held on the 29th June following the death of independent MP Peter Law. It was successfully held by his agent at the general election, Dai Davies.
By-election result
Dai Davies (Independent) 12543 (46.2%)
Owen Smith (Labour) 10059 (37.0%)
Steffan Lewis (Plaid Cymru) 1755 (6.5%)
Amy Kitcher (Liberal Democrat) 1477 (5.4%)
Margrit Williams (Conservative) 1013 (3.7%)
Alan Hope (Loony) 318 (1.2%)
Majority 2484 (9.2%)
By-election candidates:
Dai Davies (Independent) born 1959, Blaenau Gwent. Former electrician at Corus steel works and shop steward. Leader of the Blaenau Gwent People’s Voice Group, the party set up by supporters of Peter Law. Agent for Peter Law in the 2005 general election.
Alan Hope (Offical Monster Raving Loony) born Mytchett. Publican. Leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party since 1999. Contested Teignbridge 1983, 1987, 1992, Aldershot 1997, Eddisbury by-election 1999, Kensington and Chelsea by-election 1999, Brent East by-election 2003, Hartlepool by-election 2004, Aldershot 2005.
Amy Kitcher (Liberal Democrat) born 1981, Merthyr. Educated at Vaynor and Penyderyn High School and Aston University. Assistant to Mike German AM.
Steffan Lewis (Plaid Cymru) born 1985. Educated at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw and Cardiff University. Student.
Owen Smith (Labour) born 1970. Former journalist. Head of government relations for Pfizer. Former Special advisor to Paul Murphy.
Margrit Williams (Conservative) born 1964. Educated at Southend High School for Girls and London Guildhall University. Researcher for Sir Malcolm Rifkind. Wandsworth councillor 1990-1994. Contested Blaenau Gwent 1997, 2005.
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50 Responses
Pages:« 1 2 3 [4] Show All
Bradford South
It wouldn’t surprise me if Labour won the Westminster seat. However I suspect they will find it more difficult to regain the Assembly equivalent
July 18th, 2008 at 5:59 pmBradford South
Happy 95th birthday to Michael Foot.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:05 pmCroydon Central
And Happy 19th Birthday to Daniel Radcliffe.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 pmKeighley
Here are the 2008 local election results:-
Lab = 39.03%
Ind = 34.84%
Peoples Voice = 17.88%
LD = 5.96%
Plaid = 1.11%
BNP = 0.71%
Con = 0.48%
Lab Maj = 4.19%
August 16th, 2008 at 7:05 pmIf this is a Labour gain it will be a narrow one and probably the only one of the entire General Election. From those results it looks like the combined PV and Independent votes would be sufficient to hold the seat but since the percentages indicate that Plaid, Conservatives and Lib Dems didn’t contest every ward in 2008 some of that Ind vote may not back Davies at the GE
August 17th, 2008 at 12:38 amPages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All