BBC Profile:
This seat has been represented by long-serving Labour MPs. David Williams, who served in Atlee's government, was the MP until 1964, followed by Donald Coleman until his death in 1991. In the by-election of that year Peter Hain retained it for Labour, and he has held the seat since.
In 2001 there was a swing of nearly 12% from Labour to Plaid Cymru, making them the second party. They achieved a further swing of 3.4% in 2005 but Mr Hain won with a majority of 12,710.
At this election, the seat loses a part of Clydach to the Gower. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.
This West Glamorgan constituency is centred on the town of Neath, although there is a significant population in Dulais and in the Upper Swansea and Neath valleys.
Traditional industry included copper smelting, steelworks and coal mining.
The area has suffered from the decline in the heavy industry that provided such a large part of the local economy. Light industry has been encouraged to fill the void. The skills base shows why average wages here tend to be lower than the national average.
Tourist attractions include the ruined Neath Abbey, Aberdulais Falls and the restored Neath Canal.
Regeneration plans in Neath are some of the most ambitious town-centre renovation projects in the country. The council has targeted planning on the town centre rather than on out-of-town proje
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BBC Profile:
This seat has been represented by long-serving Labour MPs. David Williams, who served in Atlee's government, was the MP until 1964, followed by Donald Coleman until his death in 1991. In the by-election of that year Peter Hain retained it for Labour, and he has held the seat since.
In 2001 there was a swing of nearly 12% from Labour to Plaid Cymru, making them the second party. They achieved a further swing of 3.4% in 2005 but Mr Hain won with a majority of 12,710.
At this election, the seat loses a part of Clydach to the Gower. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.
This West Glamorgan constituency is centred on the town of Neath, although there is a significant population in Dulais and in the Upper Swansea and Neath valleys.
Traditional industry included copper smelting, steelworks and coal mining.
The area has suffered from the decline in the heavy industry that provided such a large part of the local economy. Light industry has been encouraged to fill the void. The skills base shows why average wages here tend to be lower than the national average.
Tourist attractions include the ruined Neath Abbey, Aberdulais Falls and the restored Neath Canal.
Regeneration plans in Neath are some of the most ambitious town-centre renovation projects in the country. The council has targeted planning on the town centre rather than on out-of-town projects. A rugby ball-shaped museum, library and heritage centre have been unveiled as the centrepieces of the town centre development, which is expected to commence in the early part of this decade.
Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 18,835 (52.59%)
PC 6,125 (17.10%)
LD 5,112 (14.27%)
C 4,136 (11.55%)
Others 951 (2.66%)
Green 658 (1.84%)
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