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| Established | June 09, 1983 |
| Disbanded | Still Active |
| Contributor | RP |
| Last Modified | RBH September 19, 2021 01:36am |
| Description |
Bridgend's first MP in 1983 was a Conservative, swept in on the high tide of Margaret Thatcher's landslide victory that year. But the Tories lost the seat four years later to Labour and it has been seen as a safe Labour seat since. Bridgend saw a 4% swing to the Conservatives in 2001, but Labour still managed to poll 52%of the vote. Labour's dominance in the constituency showed clearly during the Assembly election in 1999, and in 2003. Its AM is the Assembly Government's Environment, Planning & Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones. The first assembly election saw a surge in support for Plaid Cymru, in common with many other Labour seats. Plaid came third in 1999, only just behind the Conservatives, although it slipped back to fourth place at the 2001 general election and the 2003 Assembly elections. Locally, Labour lost control of the council in the 2004 local elections, and Bridgend is currently run by a coalition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents. The former Labour leader of the council is Jeff Jones, one of the most prominent councillors in Wales who has openly criticised any coalition deal, particularly in the National Assembly. Bridgend is a mixture of new and old industrial areas, as well as rural and coastline. It has prospered while some other South Wales seats have struggled, thanks partly to the presence of big companies like Ford and Sony. It is also helped by good road, rail and air links: the M4 runs through the constituency, the area is on the main rail link between Swansea and Paddington, and Cardiff International Airport is just a few miles away. The area has increasingly become an overspill area for both Cardiff and Swansea.
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