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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Islwyn (UK Parliament Constituency)
Islwyn (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈɪslʊɨn]) was a constituency in Wales represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The area, historically known for coal-mining, had voted for Labour Party candidates since it was created effective at the 1983 general election. Islwyn's first Member of Parliament (MP) was Neil Kinnock, who represented it until he resigned from Parliament in 1995. Kinnock also served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 until 1992.

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 wards were split between Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Caerphilly, and Newport West and Islwyn.

Boundaries

1983–2010: The Borough of Islwyn.

2010–2024: The Caerphilly County Borough electoral divisions of Aberbargoed, Abercarn, Argoed, Blackwood, Cefn Fforest, Crosskeys, Crumlin, Maesycwmmer, Newbridge, Pengam, Penmaen, Pontllanfraith, Risca East, Risca West, and Ynysddu.

Members of Parliament

Election Member Party Notes
1983 Neil Kinnock Labour Leader of the Labour Party & Leader of the Opposition 1983–92
1995 by-election Don Touhig Labour Co-op Junior Defence Minister & current Shadow Spokesperson for Defence
2010 Chris Evans Labour Co-op
2024 Constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Kinnock 23,183 59.4 N/A
SDP David Johnson 8,803 22.5 N/A
Conservative Michael Bevan 5,511 14.1 N/A
Plaid Cymru William Richards 1,574 4.0 N/A
Majority 14,380 36.9 N/A
Turnout 39,071 77.7 N/A
Registered electors 50,259
Labour win (new seat)
General election 1987: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Kinnock 28,901 71.3 +11.9
Conservative John Twitchen 5,954 14.7 +0.6
SDP Jacqui Gasson 3,746 9.2 ―13.3
Plaid Cymru William Richards 1,932 4.8 +0.8
Majority 22,947 56.6 +19.7
Turnout 40,533 80.4 +2.7
Registered electors 50,414
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil Kinnock 30,908 74.3 +3.0
Conservative Peter Bone 6,180 14.9 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Michael Symonds 2,352 5.7 ―3.5
Plaid Cymru (Green) Helen Mary Jones 1,606 3.9 ―0.9
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 547 1.3 N/A
Majority 24,728 59.4 +2.8
Turnout 41,593 81.4 +1.0
Registered electors 51,079
Labour hold Swing +1.4
1995 Islwyn by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Don Touhig 16,030 69.2 ―5.1
Plaid Cymru Jocelyn Davies 2,933 12.7 +8.8
Liberal Democrats John Bushell 2,448 10.6 +4.9
Conservative Robert Buckland 913 3.9 ―11.0
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 506 2.2 +0.8
UKIP Hugh Hughes 289 1.2 N/A
Natural Law Trevor Rees 47 0.2 N/A
Majority 13,097 56.5 ―2.9
Turnout 23,166 45.1 ―36.3
Registered electors 50,971
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―2.9
General election 1997: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Don Touhig 26,995 74.2 ―0.1
Liberal Democrats Christopher Worker 3,064 8.4 +2.7
Conservative David Walters 2,864 7.9 ―7.0
Plaid Cymru Darren Jones 2,272 6.2 +2.3
Referendum Susan Monaghan 1,209 3.3 N/A
Majority 23,391 65.8 +6.4
Turnout 36,404 72.0 ―9.4
Registered electors 50,540
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―1.5

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Don Touhig 19,505 61.5 ―12.7
Liberal Democrats Kevin Etheridge 4,196 13.2 +4.8
Plaid Cymru Leigh Thomas 3,767 11.9 +5.7
Conservative Phillip Howells 2,543 8.0 +0.1
Independent Paul Taylor 1,263 4.0 N/A
Socialist Labour Mary Millington 417 1.3 N/A
Majority 15,309 48.3 ―17.5
Turnout 31,691 61.9 ―10.1
Registered electors 51,230
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―8.7
General election 2005: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Don Touhig 19,687 63.8 +2.3
Plaid Cymru Jim Criddle 3,947 12.8 +0.9
Liberal Democrats Lee Dillon 3,873 12.5 ―0.7
Conservative Phillip Howells 3,358 10.9 +2.9
Majority 15,740 51.0 +2.7
Turnout 30,865 61.0 ―0.9
Registered electors 50,095
Labour Co-op hold Swing +0.7

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2010: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Chris Evans 17,069 49.2 ―15.1
Conservative Daniel Thomas 4,854 14.0 +3.0
Plaid Cymru Steffan Lewis 4,518 13.0 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Ashgar Ali 3,597 10.4 ―1.8
Independent Dave Rees 1,495 4.3 N/A
BNP John Voisey 1,320 3.8 N/A
UKIP Jason Crew 936 2.7 N/A
Independent Paul Taylor 901 2.6 N/A
Majority 12,215 35.2 ―15.8
Turnout 34,690 63.3 +3.0
Registered electors 54,866
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―9.1
General election 2015: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Chris Evans 17,336 49.0 ―0.2
UKIP Joe Smyth 6,932 19.6 +16.9
Conservative Laura Anne Jones 5,366 15.2 +1.2
Plaid Cymru Lyn Ackerman 3,794 10.7 ―2.3
Liberal Democrats Brendan D'Cruz 950 2.7 ―7.7
Green Peter Varley 659 1.9 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Von Magpie Baron 213 0.6 N/A
TUSC Josh Rawcliffe 151 0.4 N/A
Majority 10,404 29.4 ―5.8
Turnout 35,401 63.6 +0.3
Registered electors 55,697
Labour Co-op hold Swing
General election 2017: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Chris Evans 21,238 58.8 +9.8
Conservative Dan Thomas 9,826 27.2 +12.0
Plaid Cymru Darren Jones 2,739 7.6 ―3.1
UKIP Joe Smyth 1,605 4.4 ―15.2
Liberal Democrats Matthew Kidner 685 1.9 ―0.8
Majority 11,412 31.6 +2.2
Turnout 36,093 64.2 +0.6
Registered electors 56,256
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―1.1
General election 2019: Islwyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Chris Evans 15,356 44.7 ―14.1
Conservative Gavin Chambers 9,892 28.8 +1.6
Brexit Party James Wells 4,834 14.1 N/A
Plaid Cymru Zoe Hammond 2,286 6.7 ―0.9
Liberal Democrats Jo Watkins 1,313 3.8 +1.9
Green Catherine Linstrum 669 1.9 N/A
Rejected ballots 145
Majority 5,464 15.9 ―15.7
Turnout 34,350 62.0 ―2.2
Registered electors 55,423
Labour Co-op hold Swing ―7.9

Of the 145 rejected ballots:

  • 53 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
  • 92 voted for more than one candidate.

See also