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Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°29′10″N 3°12′50″W / 51.486°N 3.214°W / 51.486; -3.214
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Cardiff West (Senedd constituency).

Cardiff West
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Location within Wales
Preserved countySouth Glamorgan
Population91,027 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate73,947 (March 2020)[2]
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentAlex Barros-Curtis (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromCardiff Central
Overlaps
SeneddCardiff West, South Wales Central

Cardiff West (Welsh: Gorllewin Caerdydd) is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Alex Barros-Curtis of the Labour Party.[n 2]

The constituency retained its name and gained a ward 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 United Kingdom general election.[3]

Boundaries

[edit]

Until 2024 Cardiff West was entirely within the boundaries of the City of Cardiff, though in 2024 (as a result of the 2023 Review of UK constituences) it gained the Rhondda Cynon Taf ward of Pontyclun.[4]

1950–1974: The County Borough of Cardiff wards of Canton, Ely, Grangetown, Llandaff, and Riverside.

1974–1983: The County Borough of Cardiff wards of Canton, Ely, Llandaff, Grangetown, Plasmawr, and Riverside.

1983–2010: The City of Cardiff wards of Caerau, Canton, Ely, Fairwater, Llandaff, Radyr and St Fagans, and Riverside.

2010–2024: The City of Cardiff wards of Caerau, Canton, Creigiau and St Fagans, Ely, Fairwater, Llandaff, Pentyrch, Radyr, and Riverside.

2024–present: As above with the addition of the Rhondda Cynon Taf ward of Pontyclun (as it existed on 1 December 2020), transferred primarily from Pontypridd.[4][5]

Following local government boundary reviews which came into effect in May 2022,[6][7] the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:[8]

  • The City and County of Cardiff wards of Caerau, Canton, Ely, Fairwater, Llandaff, Pentyrch and St Fagans, Radyr, and Riverside.
  • The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf wards of Pontyclun Central, Pontyclun East, and Pontyclun West (part).

Until 2024 Cardiff West was entirely within the boundaries of the City of Cardiff.

Constituency profile

[edit]

Population areas within the constituency include Riverside, Pontcanna, St Fagans and Ely. There are some Conservative and Plaid Cymru-leaning areas in the north of the seat such as Creigiau and St Fagans, Pentyrch and Radyr, but the bulk of the seat comprises districts towards the centre of Cardiff such as Caerau, Canton, Ely and Riverside which are very strongly Labour.

History

[edit]

A traditionally safe Labour seat, represented for 33 years by George Thomas (who became Speaker in 1976 and was re-elected without party affiliation in 1979). It has returned a Conservative only once, in the Tories' landslide year of 1983, when Stefan Terlezki became the MP.

Labour regained the seat at the next general election in 1987, when Rhodri Morgan was elected. After the creation of the Welsh Assembly Government, Morgan stepped down from his Westminster seat in 2001 to serve as leader of Welsh Labour and First Minister for Wales. Kevin Brennan retained the seat for Labour on Morgan's retirement from Westminster politics. Following the announcement of the date of the 2024 general election Brennan announced his retirement from politics.[9]

Members of Parliament

[edit]
Election Member[10][11] Party
1950 George Thomas Labour
1976 Speaker
1983 Stefan Terlezki Conservative
1987 Rhodri Morgan Labour
2001 Kevin Brennan Labour
2024 Alex Barros-Curtis Labour

Elections

[edit]

Elections in the 1950s

[edit]
General election 1950: Cardiff West[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 27,200 54.3 N/A
Conservative Charles Stuart Hallinan 22,893 45.7 N/A
Majority 4,307 8.6 N/A
Turnout 50,093 82.2 N/A
Registered electors 60,918
Labour win (new seat)
General election 1951: Cardiff West [13][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 28,995 55.1 +0.8
Conservative Adrian Lincoln Hallinan 23,595 44.9 −0.8
Majority 5,400 10.2 +1.6
Turnout 62,528 84.1 +1.9
Registered electors 62,528
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Cardiff West[14][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 26,042 55.3 +0.2
Conservative Emrys Simons 21,080 44.7 −0.2
Majority 4,962 10.6 +0.4
Turnout 47,122 76.7 −7.4
Registered electors 61,446
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Cardiff West[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 25,390 53.3 −2.0
Conservative Adrian Lincoln Hallinan 22,258 46.7 +2.0
Majority 3,132 6.6 −4.0
Turnout 47,648 80.1 +3.4
Registered electors 59,524
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

[edit]
General election 1964: Cardiff West[15][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 25,998 59.2 +5.9
Conservative Keith T Flynn 17,941 40.8 −5.9
Majority 8,057 18.4 +11.8
Turnout 43,949 76.4 −3.7
Registered electors 57,511
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Cardiff West[16][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 26,139 61.0 +1.8
Conservative Sidney William Doxsey 16,714 39.0 −1.8
Majority 9,425 22.0 +3.6
Turnout 42,853 75.1 −1.3
Registered electors 57,088
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

[edit]
General election 1970: Cardiff West[17][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 21,655 49.8 −11.2
Conservative Robert C. Williams 15,878 36.5 −2.5
Plaid Cymru Dafydd Hughes 4,378 10.1 N/A
Liberal Stephen Robert Charles Wanhill 1,594 3.7 N/A
Majority 5,777 13.3 −8.7
Turnout 43,505 71.0 −4.1
Registered electors 61,322
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Cardiff West[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 16,712 44.0 −5.8
Conservative G J Neale 13,366 35.2 −1.3
Liberal Michael James 5,812 15.3 +11.6
Plaid Cymru D Hughes 2,093 5.5 −4.6
Majority 3,346 8.8 −4.5
Turnout 43,505 73.6 +2.6
Registered electors 51,626
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Cardiff West[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Thomas 18,153 50.0 +6.0
Conservative W F Dunn 11,481 31.6 −3.6
Liberal Michael James 4,669 12.9 −2.4
Plaid Cymru D Hughes 2,008 5.5 ±0.0
Majority 6,672 18.4 +9.6
Turnout 36,311 69.7 −3.9
Registered electors 52,083
Labour hold Swing
General election 1979: Cardiff West[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Speaker George Thomas 27,035 85.6 +35.6
Plaid Cymru A Ogwen 3,272 10.4 +4.9
National Front C Gibbon 1,287 4.1 N/A
Majority 23,763 75.2 +56.8
Turnout 31,594 60.8 −8.9
Registered electors 51,982
Speaker hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

[edit]
General election 1983: Cardiff West[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stefan Terlezki 15,472 38.0 N/A
Labour David Seligman 13,698 33.6 N/A
SDP Jeffrey Thomas 10,388 25.5 N/A
Plaid Cymru Meurig Parri 848 2.1 −8.3
Ecology Graham Jones 352 0.9 N/A
Majority 1,774 4.4 N/A
Turnout 40,758 69.6 +8.8
Registered electors 58,538
Conservative gain from Speaker Swing
General election 1987: Cardiff West[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rhodri Morgan 20,329 45.5 +11.9
Conservative Stefan Terlezki 16,284 36.5 −1.5
SDP Robert Drake 7,300 16.4 −9.1
Plaid Cymru Peter Keelan 736 1.7 −0.4
Majority 4,045 9.0 N/A
Turnout 44,649 77.8 +8.2
Registered electors 57,363
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Elections in the 1990s

[edit]
General election 1992: Cardiff West[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rhodri Morgan 24,306 53.2 +7.7
Conservative Michael J. Prior 15,015 32.9 −3.6
Liberal Jacqui Gasson 5,002 10.9 −5.5
Plaid Cymru Penni M. Bestic 1,177 2.6 +0.9
Natural Law Andrew E. Harding 184 0.4 N/A
Majority 9,291 20.3 +11.3
Turnout 45,684 77.5 −0.3
Registered electors 58,898
Labour hold Swing +5.6
General election 1997: Cardiff West[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rhodri Morgan 24,297 60.3 +7.1
Conservative Simon Hoare 8,669 21.5 −11.4
Liberal Jacqui Gasson 4,366 10.8 −0.1
Plaid Cymru Gwenllian Carr 1,949 4.8 +2.2
Referendum Trefor Johns 996 2.5 N/A
Majority 15,628 38.8 +18.5
Turnout 40,277 69.2 −8.3
Registered electors 58,244
Labour hold Swing +9.2

Elections in the 2000s

[edit]
General election 2001: Cardiff West[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Brennan 18,594 54.6 −5.7
Conservative Andrew Davies 7,273 21.3 −0.2
Liberal Jacqui Gasson 4,458 13.1 +2.3
Plaid Cymru Delme Bowen 3,296 9.7 +4.9
UKIP Joyce Jenking 462 1.4 N/A
Majority 11,321 33.3 −5.5
Turnout 34,083 58.4 −10.8
Registered electors 58,348
Labour hold Swing -2.8
General election 2005: Cardiff West[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Brennan 15,729 45.5 −9.1
Conservative Simon Baker 7,562 21.9 +0.6
Liberal Alison Goldsworthy 6,060 17.5 +4.4
Plaid Cymru Neil McEvoy 4,316 12.5 +2.8
UKIP Joe Callan 727 2.1 +0.7
Rainbow Dream Ticket Catherine Taylor-Dawson 167 0.5 N/A
Majority 8,167 23.6 −9.7
Turnout 34,561 57.7 −0.7
Registered electors 59,931
Labour hold Swing −4.8

Elections in the 2010s

[edit]
General election 2010: Cardiff West[31][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Brennan 16,893 41.2 −3.6
Conservative Angela Jones-Evans 12,143 29.6 +7.0
Liberal Democrats Rachael Hitchinson 7,186 17.5 +0.5
Plaid Cymru Mohammed Islam 2,868 7.0 −5.9
UKIP Michael Hennessey 1,117 2.7 +0.6
Green Jake Griffiths 750 1.8 N/A
Majority 4,750 11.6 −12.0
Turnout 40,957 65.2 +7.0
Registered electors 62,787
Labour hold Swing −5.3
General election 2015: Cardiff West[33][34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Brennan 17,803 40.7 −0.5
Conservative James Taghdissian 11,014 25.2 −4.4
Plaid Cymru Neil McEvoy 6,096 13.9 +6.9
UKIP Brian Morris 4,923 11.2 +8.5
Liberal Democrats Cadan ap Tomos 2,069 4.7 −12.8
Green Ken Barker 1,704 3.9 +2.1
TUSC Helen Jones 183 0.4 N/A
Rejected ballots 113
Majority 6,789 15.5 +3.9
Turnout 43,792 65.6 +0.4
Registered electors 66,762
Labour hold Swing +1.9

Of the 113 rejected ballots:

  • 80 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[34]
  • 30 voted for more than one candidate.[34]
  • 3 had writing or a mark by which the voter could be identified.[34]
General election 2017: Cardiff West[36][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Brennan 26,425 56.7 +16.0
Conservative Matt Smith 13,874 29.8 +4.6
Plaid Cymru Michael Deem 4,418 9.5 −4.4
Liberal Democrats Alex Meredith 1,214 2.6 −2.1
UKIP Richard Lewis 698 1.5 −9.7
Rejected ballots 89
Majority 12,551 26.9 +11.4
Turnout 46,629 69.8 +4.2
Registered electors 66,775
Labour hold Swing +5.7

Of the 89 rejected ballots:

  • 66 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[37]
  • 23 voted for more than one candidate.[37]
General election 2019: Cardiff West[38][39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kevin Brennan 23,908 51.8 −4.9
Conservative Carolyn Webster 12,922 28.0 −1.8
Plaid Cymru Boyd Clack 3,864 8.4 −1.1
Liberal Democrats Callum Littlemore 2,731 5.9 +3.3
Brexit Party Nick Mullins 1,619 3.5 N/A
Green David Griffin 1,133 2.5 N/A
Rejected ballots 144
Majority 10,986 23.8 −3.1
Turnout 46,177 67.4 −2.4
Registered electors 68,508
Labour hold Swing -1.6

Of the 144 rejected ballots:

  • 115 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.[39]
  • 28 voted for more than one candidate.[39]
  • 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.[39]

Elections in the 2020s

[edit]
General election 2024: Cardiff West[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Barros-Curtis 16,442 36.7 −13.5
Plaid Cymru Kiera Marshall 9,423 21.1 +12.6
Conservative James Hamblin 6,835 15.3 −14.6
Reform UK Peter Hopkins 5,626 12.6 +8.9
Green Jess Ryan 3,157 7.1 +4.9
Liberal Democrats Manda Rigby 1,921 4.3 −1.0
Propel Neil McEvoy 1,041 2.3 N/A
Independent John Ernest Urquhart 241 0.5 N/A
Heritage Sean Wesley 71 0.2 N/A
Majority 7,019 15.6 −8.2
Turnout 44,757 59.0 −10.9
Registered electors 75,473
Labour hold Swing Decrease 13.0

The selection of Barros-Curtis as Labour candidate, with minimal input from local party members, was criticised. He is the Labour Party's executive director of legal affairs.[41] Barros-Curtis had no connection to the Cardiff area, though had grown up in North Wales.[42]

See also

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cardiff West: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b "MP seat changes in Wales: New boundaries and constituency names to be used for first time". ITV News. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 4 (Wales).
  6. ^ "The City and County of Cardiff (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021".
  7. ^ "The County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021".
  8. ^ "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Labour MP Kevin Brennan says he is standing down". BBC News. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Cardiff West 1950–". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 2)
  12. ^ 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 556
  13. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  14. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
  15. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1964.
  16. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1966.
  17. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1970.
  18. ^ "Politics Resources". Election February 1974. Politics Resources. 28 February 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Politics Resources". Election October 1974. Politics Resources. 10 October 1974. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1979. Politics Resources. 3 May 1979. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. ^ "BBC NEWS>VOTE 2001>Results and Constituencies>Cardiff West". Vote 2001. BBC News. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  27. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  28. ^ "BBC NEWS > Cardiff West". Vote 2001. BBC News. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  29. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Cardiff West parliamentary constituency - Election 2005" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  31. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  32. ^ Cardiff West BBC Election – Cardiff West
  33. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  34. ^ a b c d "Cardiff Central result". Election results for Cardiff West. City of Cardiff Council. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  35. ^ "Cardiff Central Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015. BBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Cardiff West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  37. ^ a b c Election results for Cardiff West, UK Parliamentary Election - Thursday, 8th June, 2017, cardiff.gov.uk, 8 June 2017, retrieved 18 January 2020
  38. ^ "Cardiff West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  39. ^ a b c d Election results for Cardiff West, UK Parliamentary Election - 2019, Cardiff Council, 12 December 2019, retrieved 18 January 2020
  40. ^ "Cardiff West results - General election 2024". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  41. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (1 June 2024). "The huge Labour general election row brewing in Wales which has left people furious". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  42. ^ Jones, Catrin Haf (1 June 2024). "Labour has undemocratic culture, says party member". BBC News. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
[edit]
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the speaker
1976–1983 		Succeeded by

51°29′10″N 3°12′50″W / 51.486°N 3.214°W / 51.486; -3.214

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