Conwy (UK Parliament constituency)
# Conwy (UK Parliament constituency)

Conwy (Conway prior to 1983) was an electoral constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) by the single-member district plurality (also known as first-past-the-post) system of voting.

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election, and abolished for the 2010 general election.

## History

It was a marginal between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party throughout its existence.

The Conwy Welsh Assembly constituency was created with the same boundaries as the Conwy House of Commons constituency in 1999.

## Boundaries

The constituency was, geographically, relatively small for its region, as it followed and tended to keep to the coast, taking in parts of two separate densely populated coastal conurbations.

As well as the walled castle town of Conwy from which it bore its name, the constituency mainly comprised the popular holiday resort and retail centre of Llandudno to the east, and the city of Bangor, which is home to the University of Wales, Bangor, to the west. It also included the smaller coastal towns of Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan, as well as some sparser inland areas including former slate-quarrying communities in the Ogwen Valley.

The constituency, notably, did not include Colwyn Bay (or outlying Rhos-on-Sea), which forms part of a coastal conurbation (and the Conwy county borough) with Llandudno and its outlying town of Penrhyn Bay—both in the constituency; this area comes under the constituency of Clwyd West to the east. Nor did it include the town of Caernarfon—just southwest of Bangor—which was in a constituency of the same name.

The constituency was also bordered by Meirionnydd Nant Conwy to the south, and the insular constituency of Ynys Mon to the west.

Following the decisions of the Welsh Boundary Commission, the Conwy seat was significantly altered, forming the base of a new Aberconwy constituency established for the 2010 general election. Part of the constituency (notably Bangor) became part of the new Arfon constituency.

## Profile

Although the constituency included a student population from the university, most of the voters were towards the older end of the age spectrum as it was a popular retirement area. The constituency was also linguistically diverse, with mainly English speakers in the east and mainly Welsh speakers in the west and inland areas.

## Members of Parliament

The last MP was Betty Williams of the Labour Party, who held the seat from 1997 (when she gained 35.04% of the vote—a 9.4% swing from the Conservatives) until its abolition in 2010. Williams increased her share of the vote in 2001 (by 6.8%), but it was reduced in 2005 (by 4.7%). She is also the first female MP to hold the seat. The seat was previously held (since its renaming in 1983) by Sir Wyn Roberts for the Conservative Party, who was first elected for Conway, the old anglicised name of the constituency, in 1970.

| Election | Member | Party |
| - | - | - |
| 1950 | Elwyn Jones | Labour |
| 1951 | Peter Thomas | Conservative |
| 1966 | Ednyfed Hudson Davies | Labour |
| 1970 | Wyn Roberts | Conservative |
| 1997 | Betty Williams | Labour |
| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see Aberconwy | Constituency abolished: see Aberconwy |

## Elections

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Elwyn Jones | 15,176 | 38.4 | |
| | Conservative | David Price-White | 14,373 | 36.4 | |
| | Liberal | Emlyn Hooson | 9,937 | 25.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 803 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,486 | 84.6 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

General election 1951: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Peter Thomas | 17,115 | 43.4 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | Elwyn Jones | 16,532 | 41.9 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal | Emlyn Hooson | 5,791 | 14.7 | -10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 583 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,438 | 84.9 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

General election 1955: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Peter Thomas | 18,705 | 48.2 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Elwyn Jones | 13,881 | 35.8 | -6.1 |
| | Liberal | Herbert Mostyn Lewis | 3,217 | 8.2 | -6.5 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Ioan Bowen Rees | 3,019 | 7.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,824 | 12.4 | +11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,822 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

General election 1959: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Peter Thomas | 17,795 | 47.1 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | Silvan Jones | 13,260 | 35.1 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | John H. Bellis | 3,845 | 10.2 | +2.0 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Ioan Bowen Rees | 2,852 | 7.6 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,535 | 12.0 | -0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,752 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Peter Thomas | 18,753 | 50.6 | +3.5 |
| | Labour | Gwilym Roberts | 15,234 | 41.1 | +6.0 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Gwilym Hughes | 3,058 | 8.3 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,519 | 9.5 | -2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,045 | 80.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

General election 1966: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Ednyfed Davies | 18,203 | 47.5 | +6.4 |
| | Conservative | Peter Thomas | 17,622 | 45.9 | −4.7 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Robert E. Jones | 2,552 | 6.6 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 1.5 | -8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,377 | 83.7 | +3.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 16,927 | 42.4 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Ednyfed Davies | 16,024 | 40.2 | −7.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Dafydd Elis-Thomas | 4,311 | 10.8 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal | Elfyn Lloyd Morris | 2,626 | 6.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 903 | 2.3 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,662 | 82.0 | -1.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

General election February 1974: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 16,763 | 40.2 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | David Benjamin Rees | 12,214 | 29.3 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal | David Thomas Jones | 8,546 | 20.4 | +13.8 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Pryce Michael Farmer | 4,203 | 10.1 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,549 | 10.9 | +8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,726 | 81.2 | -0.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

General election October 1974: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 15,614 | 39.6 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | David Benjamin Rees | 12,808 | 32.5 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal | David Thomas Jones | 6,344 | 16.1 | −4.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Pryce Michael Farmer | 4,668 | 11.8 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,806 | 7.1 | -3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,434 | 76.2 | -5.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

General election 1979: Conway :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 18,142 | 44.7 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Gerson Wyn Davies | 12,069 | 29.8 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | Roger Roberts | 6,867 | 16.9 | +0.8 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Emyr Price | 3,497 | 8.6 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,073 | 15.0 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,575 | 79.0 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Conwy :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 16,413 | 41.7 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal | Roger Roberts | 12,145 | 30.8 | +12.6 |
| | Labour | Ira Walters | 6,731 | 17.1 | −12.0 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Dafydd Iwan | 4,105 | 10.4 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,268 | 10.8 | -4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,394 | 76.4 | -2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

General election 1987: Conwy :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 15,730 | 38.7 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal | Roger Roberts | 12,706 | 31.2 | +0.4 |
| | Labour | Betty Williams | 9,049 | 22.3 | +5.2 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Davies | 3,177 | 7.8 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,024 | 7.5 | -3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,662 | 77.8 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Conwy :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Wyn Roberts | 14,250 | 33.7 | −5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Roberts | 13,255 | 31.4 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | Betty Williams | 10,883 | 25.8 | +3.5 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Davies | 3,108 | 7.4 | −0.4 |
| | Ind. Conservative | Owen Wainwright | 637 | 1.5 | New |
| | Natural Law | David Hughes | 114 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 995 | 2.4 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,247 | 78.7 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.5 | |

General election 1997: Conwy :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Betty Williams | 14,561 | 35.0 | +9.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Roberts | 12,965 | 31.2 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative | David Jones | 10,085 | 24.3 | −9.4 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Rhodri Davies | 2,844 | 6.8 | −0.6 |
| | Referendum | Allan Barham | 760 | 1.8 | New |
| | Independent | Richard Bradley | 250 | 0.6 | New |
| | Natural Law | David Hughes | 95 | 0.2 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,596 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,560 | 75.4 | -3.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.3 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Conwy :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Betty Williams | 14,366 | 41.8 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative | David Logan | 8,147 | 23.7 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Victoria MacDonald | 5,800 | 16.9 | −14.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Ann Owen | 5,665 | 16.5 | +9.7 |
| | UKIP | Allan Barham | 388 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,219 | 18.1 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,366 | 62.9 | −12.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

In the 2005 general election, the seat was the 81st easiest seat for the Liberal Democrats to gain, and the 153rd easiest seat for the Conservative Party to gain. The Labour Party did not include the seat on its list of vulnerable seats and eventually held the seat (with a reduced proportion of the vote).

General election 2005: Conwy :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Betty Williams | 12,479 | 37.1 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Guto Bebb | 9,398 | 27.9 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gareth Roberts | 6,723 | 20.0 | +3.1 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Paul Rowlinson | 3,730 | 11.1 | −5.4 |
| | Green | Jim Killock | 512 | 1.5 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | David Jones | 324 | 1.0 | New |
| | UKIP | Ken Khambatta | 298 | 0.9 | −0.2 |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Tim Evans | 193 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,081 | 9.2 | -8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,723 | 62.6 | −0.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.5 | |

* Official declaration of result of the poll (in PDF)
