Thursday 14 April 2011

Camarthen West: too close to call


CAMARTHEN WEST & SOUTH PEMBS
2007 Assembly election results

Party
Votes Cast
Percentage
Burns, Angela
Conservative
8,590
30.1
Gwyther, Christine
Labour
8,492
29.7
Dixon, John
Plaid Cymru
8,340
29.2
Gossage, John
Liberal Democrat
1,806
6.3
Calver, Malcom
Independent
1,340
4.7
Electorate 57,478 Turnout: 49.7%
The seat was established in 1997 and combines rural west Carmarthen with the southern coastline of Pembrokeshire. The number of Welsh speakers (26.7%) tend to live in the eastern part of the constituency, with the Pembroke part been described as ‘little England beyond Wales.’ The economy activity is based on the deep water ports of the Haven with its refineries, tourism based on the ‘Welsh riviera and agriculture. Camarthen town is also an administrative centre with many jobs  in the public sector.
Political Profile 
This seat can be described as very much a three -way marginal, with only 250 votes dividing the Conservative, Labour and Plaid Cymru candidates at the last Assembly elections. The sitting Labour being pipped at the post by the Conservative by 98 votes. 
At the last general election the Conservative candidate overturned a 2,043 Labour majority to gain the seat with a 3,423 majority.
All the indications are that this election is coming at the wrong time in the election cycle for Angela Burns the incumbent. If fields could vote the Conservatives would be home and dry on the poster count, but unfortunate for them the election system is based on ballot papers in the box. It is likely that her vote will suffer a dramatic decrease and all the indications are that it is a two horse or to be more accurate a two mare race between Labour and Plaid Cymru.
In the industrial base of Pembroke Dock Labour have the advantage but in the more rural parts and the Welsh speaking east  Plaid Cymru have the edge.
It is likely to go to the wires and it may all be determined by which party machine is most effective at getting the vote out. In campaign terms Plaid Cymru seem to be the most energetic and may nose in front.

Prediction 
Conservative defeat but Plaid/Labour too close to call.

Candidates

Labour
Christine Gwyther

Christine Gwyther who is from Pembroke Dock, held the constituency seat from 
1999-2007. 

She failed to retain her seat in the 2007. Before going into politics, she worked as a  

Development Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council
During the first term of the Assembly, she was the Minister of Agriculture under the leadership
of Alun Michael. but was dismissed from her post as Welsh agriculture minister by Rhodri 
Morgan on the eve of the Royal Welsh Agricultural show. 
She fought the neighbouring seat of Camarthen East in the last general election.

Conservative
Angela Burns
Angela Burns lives in Pembrokeshire with her husband and two young children. She describes herself as a businesswoman having worked for both large and small businesses. She was elected an Assembly Member in May 2007and has served as party’s Shadow Minister for Finance and Shadow Minister for Regeneration and Transport. She was also Chair of the NAW’s Finance committee. She was appointed Shadow Minister for the Environment and Planning in February 2009.
Liberal Democrat
Selwyn Runnett
Selwyn Runnett lives and works in West Wales. He has been a property professional for over 30 years and is currently a letting and estate agent. He is a Town Councillor and has campaigned on issues relating to rural communities and market towns including the campaign to re-open St Clears railway station and to achieve better train services for West Wales.
Plaid Cymru 
Nerys Evans 
Nerys Evans is Plaid’s Director of Policy and was elected to the National Assembly in 2007. She holds Plaid’s Education portfolio. She read Politics at Manchester University and began working as Plaid Cymru Community Organiser in Carmarthen East in 2002. 

6 comments:

  1. Surely you mewn Camarthen West: too close to call

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  2. It's a cracking encounter.
    Nery is arguably the more voteable individual but Chris has the labour opinion poll strength.
    Anglela has been starting to advertise herself as an am in the last few months .
    While selwyn would be the most beneficial to the Assembly. Being head of carmarthenshire business.

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  3. Do you mean 'too' close to call? Typogate strikes again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. thank you all for pointing out my too and to

    ReplyDelete
  5. I wasn't on about the to really - it was the Carmathen East bit. your post is about Carmathen West / South Pembroke.

    ReplyDelete