2007 National Assembly for Wales election

The 2007 National Assembly for Wales election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, as well as the Scottish Parliament election took place. This election was preceded by the previous Assembly election in 2003.

2007 National Assembly for Wales election

← 2003 3 May 2007 2011 →

All 60 seats to the National Assembly for Wales
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout43.7% Increase 5.5%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Rhodri Morgan Ieuan Wyn Jones
Party Labour Plaid Cymru
Leader's seat Cardiff West Ynys Môn
Last election 30 seats 12 seats
Seats won 26 15
Seat change Decrease4 Increase3
Constituency Vote 314,925 219,121
% and swing 32.2% Decrease7.8% 22.4% Increase1.2%
Regional Vote 288,954 204,757
% and swing 29.6% Decrease7.0% 21.0% Increase1.3%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Nick Bourne Michael German
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Mid and West Wales South Wales East
Last election 11 seats 6 seats
Seats won 12 6
Seat change Increase1 Steady
Constituency Vote 218,730 144,450
% and swing 22.4% Increase2.5% 14.8% Increase0.7%
Regional Vote 209,153 114,500
% and swing 21.4% Increase2.3% 11.7% Decrease1.0%


First Minister before election

Rhodri Morgan
Labour

First Minister after election

Rhodri Morgan
Labour

The election saw Plaid Cymru make gains at the expense of Labour, although Labour remain the largest party in the Assembly, as they have since it began. Plaid stated they would make a referendum on devolving further powers to the National Assembly a condition for a coalition.[1] Wales reported that senior civil servants before the election were preparing for three possible coalition administrations: Labour/Liberal Democrat, Labour/Plaid Cymru or Plaid Cymru/Liberal Democrat/Conservative.

Discussions between Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to form a "Rainbow" Coalition broke down, and a coalition was eventually agreed between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

Major parties

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The Welsh Labour Party before the election had 29 seats, Plaid Cymru had 12, the Welsh Conservative Party 11, the Welsh Liberal Democrats 6, Forward Wales 1, with 1 independent, Trish Law. Law had won her seat at a 2006 by-election. The one Forward Wales Assembly Member was elected as an independent before forming the party. The standings were otherwise identical to the 2003 results.

Electoral method

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In general elections for the National Assembly for Wales, each voter has two votes in a mixed member system. The first vote may be used to vote for a candidate to become the Assembly Member for the voter's constituency, elected by the first past the post system. The second vote may be used to vote for a regional closed party list of candidates. Additional member seats are allocated from the lists by the d'Hondt method, with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation. The overall result is approximately proportional.

Pre-election forecasts

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Predictions for the seat distribution were made by a number of polls before the election:

Forecast by Dates Lab Plaid Con LD other
Institute of Welsh Affairs[2] 2007-01-13 25 13 13 7 2
NOP/ITV[3] 2007-04-06 25 12 14 7 2
Western Mail[4] 2007-04-27 25 15 10 8 2

Electoral results

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  • Overall turnout – 43.7%
Welsh Assembly election, 2007
 
Parties Additional member system Total seats
Constituency Region
Votes % +/− Seats +/− Votes % +/− Seats +/− Total +/− %
Labour 314,925 32.2 −7.8 24 −6 288,954 29.6 −7.0 2 +2 26 −4 43.3
Plaid Cymru 219,121 22.4 +1.2 7 +2 204,757 21.0 +1.3 8 +1 15 +3 25.0
Conservative 218,730 22.4 +2.5 5 +4 209,153 21.5 +2.3 7 −3 12 +1 20.0
Liberal Democrats 144,450 14.8 +0.7 3 0 114,500 11.7 −1.0 3 0 6 0 10.0
BNP 42,197 4.3 +3.9 0 0 0 0
UKIP 18,047 1.8 −0.5 0 0 38,490 3.9 +0.4 0 0 0 0
Green 33,803 3.5 0.0 0 0 0 0
Socialist Labour 12,209 1.3 +0.1 0 0 0 0
Independent 29,699 3.0 +2.4 1 0 9,350 1.0 N/A 0 0 1 0 1.7
Welsh Christian 8,963 0.9 N/A 0 0 0 0
Communist 3,708 0.4 +0.3 0 0 0 0
CPA 2,694 0.3 N/A 0 0 0 0
Socialist Alternative 1,865 0.2 N/A 0 0 0 0
Respect 1,792 0.2 N/A 0 0 0 0
English Democrat 1,867 0.2 N/A 0 0 1,655 0.2 N/A 0 0 0 0
Veritas 505 0.1 N/A 0 0 0 0
Socialist Equality 292 0.0 N/A 0 0 0 0
Blaenau Gwent PV 3,348 0.3 N/A 0 0 0 0
  Total 978,132 40   974,884   20 60  

(source:[5])

Votes summary

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Popular Vote
Labour
29.6%
Conservative
21.5%
Plaid Cymru
21.0%
Liberal Democrats
11.7%
BNP
4.3%
UKIP
3.9%
Green
3.5%
Socialist Labour
1.2%
Other
3.2%
Parliament seats
Labour
43.3%
Plaid Cymru
25.0%
Conservative
20.0%
Liberal Democrats
10.0%
Independent
1.7%

Constituency nominations

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NB: candidates in BOLD text were incumbent assembly members before the election

Constituency Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Others
Aberavon Daisy Meyland-Smith Brian Gibbons Claire Waller Linett Purcell
Aberconwy Dylan Jones-Evans Denise Idris Jones Euron Hughes Gareth Jones
Alyn and Deeside Will Gallagher Carl Sargeant Paul Brighton Dafydd Passe William Crawford (UKIP)
Arfon Gerry Frobisher Martin Eaglestone Mel Ab Owain Alun Ffred Jones Elwyn Williams (UKIP)
Blaenau Gwent Bob Hayward Keren Bender Gareth Lewis Natasha Asghar Trish Law (Independent)
Brecon and Radnorshire Suzy Davies Neil Stone Kirsty Williams Arwel Lloyd
Bridgend Emma Greenow Carwyn Jones Paul Warren Nick Thomas
Caerphilly Richard Foley Jeff Cuthbert Huw Price Lindsay Whittle Ron Davies (Independent)[6]
Cardiff Central Andrew Murphy Sue Lent Jenny Randerson Thomas Whitfield Frank Hughes (UKIP)
Cardiff North Jonathan Morgan Sophie Howe Ed Bridges Wyn Jones Dai Llewellyn (UKIP)
Cardiff South and Penarth Karen Robson Lorraine Barrett Dominic Hannigan Jason Toby
Cardiff West Alun Craig Williams Rhodri Morgan Alison Goldworthy Neil McEvoy
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Henrietta Hensher Kevin Madge Ian Walton Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Angela Burns Christine Gwyther John Gossage John Dixon
Ceredigion Trefor Jones Linda Grace John Davies Elin Jones Dafydd Morgan (Independent)
Clwyd South John Bell Karen Sinclair Frank Biggs Nia Davies David Rowlands (UKIP)
Clwyd West Darren Millar Alun Pugh Simon Croft Phil Edwards Warwick Nicholson (UKIP)
Cynon Valley Neil John Christine Chapman Margaret Phelps Liz Walters
Delyn Antoinette Sandbach Sandy Mewies Ian Matthews Meg Elis Derek Bigg (UKIP)
Dwyfor Meirionnydd Mike Wood David Phillips Steve Churchman Dafydd Elis-Thomas
Gower Byron Davies Edwina Hart Nick Tregoning Darren Price Alex Lewis (UKIP)
Islwyn Paul Williams Irene James Mark J Maguire Alan Pritchard Kevin Etheridge (Independent)
Llanelli Andrew Morgan Catherine Thomas Jeremy Townsend Helen Mary Jones
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Giles Howard Huw Lewis Amy Kitcher Glyndwr Cennydd Jones Clive Tovay (Independent), Jeff Edwards
Monmouth Nick Ramsay Richard Clark Jacqui Sullivan Jonathan T Clark Ed Abrams (English Democrats)
Montgomeryshire Dan Munford Rachel Maycock Mick Bates David Thomas Bruce Lawson (UKIP)
Neath Andrew Silvertsen Gwenda Thomas Sheila Waye Alun Llewelyn
Newport East Peter Fox John Griffiths Ed Townsend Trefor Puw Andrew Constantine (English Democrats)[7]
Newport West Matthew Evans Rosemary Butler Nigel Flanagan Brian Hancock Mike Blundell (English Democrats)[7] & James Harris (Independent)
Ogmore Norma Lloyd Nesling Janice Gregory Martin Plant Sian Caiach
Pontypridd Janice Charles Jane Davidson Mike Powell Richard Rhys Grigg
Preseli Pembrokeshire Paul Davies Tamsin Dunwoody Hywel Davies John Osmond
Rhondda Howard Parsons Leighton Andrews Karen Roberts Jill Evans
Swansea East Bob Dowdle Valerie Lloyd Helen Ceri Clarke Danny Bowles
Swansea West Harri Lloyd Davies Andrew Davies Peter May Ian Titherington Richard Lewis (UKIP)
Torfaen Graham Smith Lynne Neagle Patrick Legge Rhys ab Elis Ian Williams (People's Voice)
Vale of Clwyd Matt Wright Ann Jones Mark Young Mark Jones
Vale of Glamorgan Gordon Kemp Jane Hutt Mark Hooper Barry Shaw Kevin Mahoney (UKIP)
Wrexham Felicity Elphick Lesley Griffiths Bruce Roberts Siôn Aled Owen John Marek (Independent), Peter Lewis (UKIP)
Ynys Môn James Roach Jonathan Austin Mandi Abrahams Ieuan Wyn Jones Francis Wykes (UKIP), Peter Rogers (Independent)

Regional lists

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[9]

Mid and West Wales

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National Assembly for Wales election, 2007: Mid and West Wales
Constituency Elected member Result
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Rhodri Glyn Thomas Plaid Cymru hold
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Angela Burns Conservative win
Ceredigion Elin Jones Plaid Cymru hold
Dwyfor Meirionnydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas Plaid Cymru hold
Llanelli Helen Mary Jones Plaid Cymru win
Montgomeryshire Mick Bates Liberal Democrats hold
Preseli Pembrokeshire Paul Davies (politician) Conservative win
Brecon and Radnorshire Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrats hold
British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Independent Independent Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Socialist Labour Party UKIP Veritas Welsh Christian Party
1. Ian Si'ree Joseph Antony Biddulph Rick Newnham Nick Bourne Leila Kiersch Caroline Evans Gwynoro Jones Alun Davies Cllr. Bill Powell Nerys Evans Alun Davies Clive Easton Iain Sheldon Adam Bridgman
2. Chris Edwards-Harrill Elaine Blake Glyn Davies Timothy John Foster Joyce Watson Julianna Hughes David Senior Luke Hume Nick Powell M. Williams
3. Lloyd Thomas Morgan Graham Morgan Lisa Francis Marilyn Elson Alun Wyn Richards Cllr. Ken Harris Delyth Richards Patricia Ann Bowen Dennis Taylor J. Morgan
4. Marie Murray Clive Eliassen O. J. Williams John Jennings Rhiannon Stone Selwyn Runnett Mrs. Liz Saville-Roberts Maggie Davies Virginia Whinnyates M. Davies
5. Richard Minshull Chris Simpson Dr. Parvaiz Ali Cllr. David Peter Martin Wiltshire
6. M.J.H. Jefferies Emma Hayes
7. Alexander Viol
  • RESULT: Labour – 2 seats; Plaid Cymru – 1 seat; Conservative – 1 seat
British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party
1. Ennys Hughes Brian Churchill Glyn Davies Brynle Williams Jim Killock Ken Skates Eleanor Burnham Janet Ryder Bob English John Bufton Lindsay Griffiths
2. Dallus Weaver Rhian Cartwright Mark Isherwood Joe Blakesley Donna Hutton Cllr. Tudor Jones Dafydd Wigley Dave Roberts Nathan Gill Rev. Heather Butler
3. Simon Darby Trevor Jones Cllr. Janet Finch-Saunders Maredudd ap Rheinallt Cllr. Ronnie Hughes Bobby Feeley Dyfed Edwards Judith Sambrook Elaine Gill Mark MacLeod
4. Mike Howard Mike Green Paul Rogers Cllr. Wilf Hastings Wenna Williams Cllr. Douglas Madge Cllr. Abdul Khan Paul Liversuch Ken Khambatta Justin Davies
5. James Davies Cllr. Chris Hughes Cllr. Michael Edwards
6. John Broughton Anne Williams
  • RESULT: Conservative – 2 seats; Plaid Cymru – 1 seat; LibDem – 1 seat
British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru RESPECT The Unity Coalition Socialist Alternative Socialist Equality Party Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party
1. John Walker Anthony Jeremy Robert Griffiths David Melding John Matthews Iftakhar Khan Cllr. John Dixon Leanne Wood Karen Tyre Dave Reid Chris Talbot Liz Screen John Pratt W. Johannsen
2. Laurence Reid Gwen Griffiths Andrew R. T. Davies Richard Payne Cerys Furlong Cllr. Gavin Cox Chris Franks Rowena Mason David O'Sullivan Harry Parfitt David Bevan D. Thomson
3. Tim Windsor Fran Rawlings Victoria Green Nigel Baker Anthony Hunt Alexandra Macmillan Gwenllian Lansdown Andrew Price Stuart Nolan Ina Marsden Dr K. T. Rajan D. Williams
4. Mark Deacon Clive Griffiths Richard John Richard Clarke Jayne Brencher Cllr. Asghar Ali Mohammed Sarul Islam Jane Jackson Poopalasingham Thillaivarothayan Rob Hawkins William Potter J. Storey
5. Mike Jones-Pritchard Anthony Matthews Matt Greenough Cllr. Margaret Jones Alex Gounelas
6. Jon Burns Elizabeth Ale Andrew Sherwood Joe Fathallah
  • RESULT: Conservative – 2 seats; Plaid Cymru – 2 seats
British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party English Democrats Green Party of England and Wales Independent Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party
1. Robert James Trueman Madeleine Jeremy Roy Evans William Graham Steve Gash Ann Were Colin Hobbs Cllr. Mark Whitcutt Michael German Jocelyn Davies John Cox David J Rowlands Jeff Green
2. Peter Greenhalgh Sara Jeremy Angharad Halpin Laura Anne Jones Alan England Alasdair McGowen Tunji Fahm Cllr. Veronica Watkins Mohammad Asghar Sue Deare Keith Morgan Geoff Waggett
3. Marlene Jordan Dan Cole David Chipp Fred Bishop Gerry Layton Julie Helen Robinson Cllr. Phylip Hobson Colin Mann Glenn Eynon Roger Thomas Peter Watkins
4. Christopher Robinson Dave Rawlings Andrew Roberts David Lane Owen Clarke John Wright Turner Alison Willott Glyn Erasmus Cerian Screen Hugh Moelwyn Hughes Richard Patching
5. Steven Uncles Rhianon Passmore Cllr. David Hando Joyce Giblin
6. Michael Russell Jean Gray
  • RESULT: Plaid Cymru – 2 seats; Conservative – 1 seat; LibDem – 1 seat
  • Mohammad Asghar was the first ethnic minority member of the Assembly for Plaid Cymru[10] but on 8 December 2009, he switched to the Conservatives[11]
  • Veronica German succeeded Mike German as the Liberal Democrat AM following his appointment to the House of Lords.
British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Independent Conservative Independent Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru RESPECT The Unity Coalition Socialist Alternative Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party
1. Clive Bennett Anne Savoury David Brown Alun Cairns Rhodri Griffiths John Jenkins Keith James Howard Davies Peter Black Bethan Jenkins Paul Lynch Ross Saunders Jacob Bowen Tim Jenkins David Griffiths
2. Nick Griffin Mick Carty Chris Smart Brig Oubridge Cllr. Alana Davies Cllr. Jackie Radford David Lloyd Ahmed Al-Jeffery Alec Thraves Martha Page-Harries Mike Squires Anthony Kelly
3. John Cooper Sian O'Brien Gerald Rowbottom Jane Richmond Cllr. Leighton Veale Frank Little Lisa Turnbull Ron Job Miriam Scale Denise Robinson Katherine Bridgman
4. Jennifer King Rob Uprichard Kenneth Watts Jonathan Spink Cllr. Erika Kirchner Cllr. Mike Day Carolyn Edwards Lianne Francis Howard Rees Josie MacDonald Tim Price
5. Bob Smith David Rees Cllr. Peter Foley Bernard Roome Theresa Jenkins
6. Cllr. Norah Clarke Mark Evans
7. Rachael Hitchinson
8. Marilyn Harris

In South Wales West, there were also party lists from the Communist Party of Britain, Christian Peoples Alliance, Respect Party, Socialist Labour Party, Welsh Christian Party in addition to two independents, Keith James and John Hudson Jenkins.

New members

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Thirteen of the members elected to the Assembly in the election were not members of the previous Assembly, including Gareth Jones, who sat in the Assembly from 1999 to 2003 and lost his seat in that year's election.

Defeated members

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Nine sitting AMs were defeated at the polls.

Retiring members

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Four sitting AMs did not offer themselves for re-election.

National election, 2003

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Due to boundary changes, the composition of the outgoing Assembly did not reflect the Assembly that was elected in May 2003 (see National Assembly for Wales constituencies and electoral regions). The main changes were in northwestern Wales, where the constituencies of Conwy, Caernarfon, and Meirionydd nant Conwy were replaced by Aberconwy, Arfon and Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Plaid to seek devolution referendum after election, Wales, 3 January 2007, accessed on 8 February 2007.
  2. ^ Labour set to lose out in May's WAG vote, icWales, 2007-01-13, accessed on 2007-01-17.
  3. ^ Martin Shipton (6 April 2007). "First poll thunders warning for Rhodri". walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  4. ^ Shipton, Martin (5 April 2007). "First poll thunders warning for Rhodri". walesonline.
  5. ^ "BBC NEWS | Election 2007 | Welsh Assembly | Election Result: Wales". BBC News.
  6. ^ Davies to contest assembly seat, BBC News, 5 February 2007, accessed 8 February 2007.
  7. ^ a b "English Democrats Party:: News blog". Archived from the original on 10 May 2007.
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "National Assembly for Wales Election Results 2007-". election.demon.co.uk.
  10. ^ "First ethnic minority AM elected". BBC News. 4 May 2007.
  11. ^ "Plaid AM defects to Conservatives". BBC News. 8 December 2009.
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