Aberconwy
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 9119 (31.5%)
Conservative: 8875 (30.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 5733 (19.8%)
Plaid Cymru: 4186 (14.4%)
Other: 1080 (3.7%)
Majority: 243 (0.8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 9398 (27.9%)
Labour: 12479 (37.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 6723 (20%)
Plaid Cymru: 3730 (11.1%)
Green: 512 (1.5%)
UKIP: 298 (0.9%)
Other: 517 (1.5%)
Majority: 3081 (9.2%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 8147 (23.7%)
Labour: 14366 (41.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 5800 (16.9%)
Plaid Cymru: 5665 (16.5%)
UKIP: 388 (1.1%)
Majority: 6219 (18.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 10085 (24.3%)
Labour: 14561 (35%)
Liberal Democrat: 12965 (31.2%)
Plaid Cymru: 2844 (6.8%)
Referendum: 760 (1.8%)
Other: 345 (0.8%)
Majority: 1596 (3.8%)
Boundary changes: underwent major changes in the boundary review to bring it in line with the preserved Welsh county boundaries. Conwy lost Bangor to the new
Profile: Aberconwy consists of the town of Conwy itself, the Victorian seaside resort of Landudno and the Conwy Valley, including Llanrwst and Betws-Y-Coed. Prior to 1997 the seat had been held by the Conservative party for 27 years. After the retirement of Wyn Roberts in 1997 Labour won it from third place. In the 1999 Welsh assembly elections the seat was a surprise win for Plaid, but was won again by Labour in 2003, with Plaid a close second. The removal of Labour voting Bangor under the new boundaries once again makes the seat a prime target for the Tories.
Outgoing MP: Betty Williams(Labour) born 1944 in Bangor. Married with 2 children. Educated at the University of Wales. Former freelance media researcher and charity worker. Elected 1997. Was a long standing councillor in the Gwynedd part of the old Conwy constituency and was mayor of Arfon from 1990-1991. Rebelled against the government on foundation hospitals and the war in Iraq. Hobbies include opera and sheepdog trials. Will retire at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Guto Bebb (Conservative) born 1968, Wrexham. Educated at the University of Wales. Partner in an Economic Development Consultancy. A former Plaid Cymru constituency chairman he defected after being ousted as local chair for his opposition to the single currency. Contested Ogmore by-election 2002, Conwy in 2003 Welsh Assembly elections, Conwy 2005.
Ronnie Hughes (Labour) Conwy councillor and former leader of the council. Former Aberconwy councillor.
Mike Priestley (Liberal Democrat) Born 1966, Colwyn Bay. Educated at Ysgol Aberconwy. Royal mail delivery office manager. Conwy councillor.
Phil Edwards (Plaid Cymru) Educated at Ysgol Y Gader. Former policeman. Contested Clwyd West in 2007 Welsh Assembly elections.
Michael Wieteska (UKIP) Born 1945, Salford. Educated at North Carolina College of Theology. Pastor.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 55388
Male: 48.1%
Female: 51.9%
Under 18: 20.3%
Over 60: 28.8%
Born outside UK: 3.3%
White: 99%
Asian: 0.3%
Mixed: 0.4%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 77.6%
Full time students: 2.5%
Graduates 16-74: 18.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 30.7%
Owner-Occupied: 73.2%
Social Housing: 12% (Council: 7.7%, Housing Ass.: 4.3%)
Privately Rented: 11.3%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 16%
‘Didnt he sell peerages?’
Oh yes, thank you for reminding me Smokey!!
It should be pointed out that that was before he became PM, yet he still got the job…wouldn’t seem out of place today!!
But apart from that, as far as I am aware he appears to have had a clean slate politically. Not least for leading the country in the Great War.
LLandudno was a tiny community of 318 inhabitants in 1801 (only 1131 in 1851). The Caernarfon Boroughsd was composed of Conwy, Bangor Caernarfon, Nefyn, Pwllheli and Criccieth – all far larger and far older.
Message for Michael Wietska….. You are not allowed to be a candidate in more than one constituency.
“It should be pointed out that that was before he became PM, yet he still got the job…wouldn’t seem out of place today!!”
No it was while he was PM
Smokey: your post was at least 44 minutes late. You are. Iirc there was a single person candidate for all three Cardiff Constituencies in 2005
Who was that?
I couldn’t remember the name but wikipedia says Catherine Taylor-Dawson, and the other things mentioned match my recollection well enough.
In the last Westminster election Tim Evans stood in both Conwy and Ynys Mon for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance. (If he had won both would he have been their joint MP?)
John Whittaker stood for UKIP in Ashton Under Lyne, Stalybridge & Hyde, Heywood & Middleton and Rochdale in 2005