Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency)

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Preserved county
  
Mid Glamorgan

Created
  
1918

Number of members
  
One

Electorate
  
61,507 (April 2012)

Member of parliament
  
Owen Smith (Labour)

Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency)

Major settlements
  
Pontypridd, Llantrisant

Pontypridd /pɒntəˈprð/ is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returns one Member of Parliament (MP), elected by the first past the post system. Pontypridd has been represented by a succession of Labour MPs since 1922. Since the 2010 general election the seat has been held by Owen Smith.

Contents

Boundaries

Pontypridd constituency can be split into two parts, an eastern part containing the town itself, and a western part focussed on Llantrisant. In Pontypridd itself the wards are: Town, Treforest, Rhondda (consisting of Hopkinstown, Maesycoed, Graigwen, Trehafod, & Pwllgwaun), Graig, Trallwng, Rhydyfelin Central & Ilan, Hawthorn, Taffs Well. The Western half consists of the following wards: Beddau, Church Village, Tonteg, Llantwit Fardre, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, Talbot Green, Tonyrefail East and Tonyrefail West.

Alternatively, one can think of the constituency as being divided between a 'suburban' district in the south and communities that grew in the industrial revolution to the north; the Southern area, particularly between Church Village and Llantrisant, contains much new residential and light industrial development, and benefits from good transport links due to its proximity to the M4. This section has a growing population and is an important 'dormitory' for Cardiff. The Northern parts, particularly Tonyrefail and the northern end of Pontypridd town consists of large sections of 19th century housing and suffered high unemployment in the 1980s as the old industries closed. However, in recent years, economic recovery has been firm, especially considered with neighbouring constituencies to the north.

The Pontypridd constituency was created in its original form from parts of the old South Glamorganshire & East Glamorganshire constituencies as part of Representation of the People Act 1918 (sometimes referred to as 'The Fourth Reform Act') which granted virtually all men over 21 the right to vote, extended voting rights to women over 30 years of age, & increased the number of the now abolished University constituencies. Part of this Act also effected a 'General Redistribution of Seats' on an 'equitable basis'. It originally included the old Borough & Rural district of Cowbridge (which included Ystradowen, Bonvilston, St Athan, Llantwit Major & Llandow) & the Urban district of Pontypridd plus the Rural District of Llantrisant & Llantwit Fardre. The constituency remained unchanged from this form until the Third Periodic Parliamentary Boundary Review's proposals were implemented in 1983. This removed Cowbridge Borough and the Cowbridge Rural District placing them in the Vale of Glamorgan constituency additionally moving out the communities of Llanharry, Llanharan, and Brynna into the Ogmore constituency.

However the communities of Creigiau and Pentyrch were added to the seat at this time, only to be removed again in time for the 2010 General Election. For the 2010 Election the Cilfyndd and Glyncoch electoral divisions were also removed from the seat, and added to the Cynon Valley constituency.

Members of Parliament

Like many seats in South Wales, Pontypridd has been retained by the Labour party for over 90 years.

Elections in the 1910s

  • endorsed by the Coalition Government
  • References

    Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency) Wikipedia