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| Established | December 14, 1918 |
| Disbanded | Still Active |
| Contributor | RP |
| Last Modified | RBH September 19, 2021 01:31am |
| Description |
Aberavon is one of the safest Labour seats in Wales. Held by Labour's first prime minister, Ramsay Macdonald, it has been in the party's hands ever since. In 2001, Plaid Cymru overtook the Liberal Democrats to go into second place with 9.8% of the vote. In 1997, Plaid trailed in fourth place while the Lib Dems took second with 11.3%. At the assembly elections in 2003, Labour AM Dr Brian Gibbons held onto the seat. He was promoted to health & social services minister in 2005. Before this the former GP had served as a deputy in the department. Manufacturing is still the constituency's biggest employer. Its main town, Port Talbot, is still dominated by the Corus steelworks but the workforce has shrunk to less than a quarter of the 12,500 once employed. The petro-chemical plant at Baglan Bay once employed 2,000 but now only about 50. Upper Afan Valley also boasts the Afan Forest Park, a popular spot for walking. Visitor attractions include the 850 acre Margam Country Park, and the Welsh Miner's Museum. The 2001 census recorded 45% of the population with a long-term illness. Local heroes include Aberavon RFC, whose Talbot Athletic Ground is also known as The World of Hurt, and Port Talbot-born actor Sir Anthony Hopkins - though he ruffled feathers when he became an US citizen.
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