# Neath (UK Parliament constituency)

Neath (Welsh: Castell-nedd) was a constituency in Wales represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1918 to 2024.
The constituency was abolished as part of the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies and under the June 2023 final recommendations of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the 2024 general election. Its wards were split between Aberafan Maesteg, Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, and Neath and Swansea East.

## History

The constituency was located in the preserved county of West Glamorgan, Wales. It consisted of the electoral wards of Aberdulais, Allt-wen, Blaengwrach, Bryn-côch North, Bryn-côch South, Cadoxton, Cimla, Crynant, Cwmllynfell, Dyffryn, Glynneath, Godre'r Graig, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Lower Brynamman, Neath East, Neath North, Neath South, Onllwyn, Pelenna, Pontardawe, Resolven, Rhos, Seven Sisters, Tonna, Trebanos and Ystalyfera.
The Neath constituency was a mixture of both industrial and rural communities, running in a north–south strip across South Wales. It included most of the Neath and Dulais valleys, and some of the Upper Swansea Valley as well. The town of Neath was at its southern end. The constituency contained historical places of both industrial and natural forms. Neath and the surrounding areas were industrialised very early in Britain's history. Copper smelting was already happening here in the late 16th century.
The constituency was heavily mined and the small communities that grew up around these mines were devastated by the collapse of the mining industry in the 1980s. On the edges of many of these communities there are now "Industrial Villages" springing up, helping to replace the jobs lost by the demise of the mining industry, and so helping to keep young people in these communities.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | John Hugh Edwards | Coalition Liberal |
| 1922 | Sir William Jenkins | Labour |
| 1945 by-election | D. J. Williams | Labour |
| 1964 | Donald Coleman | Labour |
| 1991 by-election | Peter Hain | Labour |
| 2015 | Christina Rees | Labour Co-operative |
| 2022 | Christina Rees | Independent |
| 2024 | Christina Rees | Labour Co-operative |
| 2024 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Hugh Edwards | 17,818 | 64.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Herbert Morgan | 9,670 | 35.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,148 | 29.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,488 | 70.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,929 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jenkins | 19,566 | 59.5 | +24.3 |
| | National Liberal | Hugh Edwards | 13,331 | 40.5 | −24.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,235 | 19.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,897 | 75.4 | +4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32,897 | | |
| | Labour gain from National Liberal | Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing | +24.3 | |
General election 1923: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jenkins | 20,764 | 62.3 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Elias | 12,562 | 37.7 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,202 | 24.6 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,326 | 73.9 | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,326 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election 1924: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jenkins | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 46,996 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
General election 1929: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jenkins | 29,455 | 60.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Jack Jones | 14,554 | 29.8 | N/A |
| | Unionist | David J. Evans | 4,892 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,901 | 30.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,901 | 82.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 48,901 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jenkins | 30,873 | 64.0 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal | David G Davies | 17,389 | 36.0 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,484 | 28.0 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,262 | 78.4 | −3.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,550 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.2 | |
General election 1935: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jenkins | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,975 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Elections in the 1940s

1945 Neath by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David James Williams | 30,847 | 79.3 | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 6,290 | 16.2 | N/A |
| | Revolutionary Communist | Jock Haston | 1,781 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,557 | 63.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,918 | 58.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 67,083 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1945: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David James Williams | 37,957 | 75.8 | N/A |
| | National Liberal | David Bowen | 8,466 | 16.9 | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 3,659 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29,491 | 58.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,082 | 75.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 67,083 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David James Williams | 33,034 | 73.0 | −2.8 |
| | Conservative | Jack C. Hope | 6,225 | 13.7 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal | O Vaughan Jones | 4,425 | 9.8 | N/A |
| | Communist | A Thomas | 1,584 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,809 | 59.3 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,268 | 87.5 | +11.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,720 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David James Williams | 34,496 | 76.9 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Jennings | 10,367 | 23.1 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,129 | 53.8 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,863 | 85.9 | −1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,203 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David James Williams | 30,581 | 76.4 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Jack C. Hope | 9,467 | 23.6 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,114 | 52.8 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,048 | 77.9 | −8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,422 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David James Williams | 30,469 | 71.4 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Norton Idris Pearce | 10,263 | 24.0 | +0.4 |
| | Communist | James J. David | 1,962 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,206 | 47.4 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,694 | 82.6 | +4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,711 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 29,692 | 73.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Mervyn Nelson Scorgie | 8,342 | 20.6 | −3.4 |
| | Communist | James J. David | 2,432 | 6.0 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,350 | 52.8 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,466 | 80.4 | −2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 50,318 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 31,183 | 79.9 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Paul H. Valerio | 6,312 | 16.1 | −4.5 |
| | Communist | James J. David | 1,632 | 4.2 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,871 | 63.8 | +11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,127 | 78.7 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 49,694 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 28,378 | 71.4 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | David Henry J. Martin-Jones | 6,765 | 17.0 | +0.9 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Glyn John | 4,012 | 10.1 | N/A |
| | Communist | Bert Pearce | 579 | 1.5 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21,613 | 54.4 | −9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,734 | 75.3 | −3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,744 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 25,351 | 62.2 | −9.2 |
| | Plaid Cymru | H G Evans | 8,758 | 21.5 | +11.4 |
| | Conservative | L J Walters | 6,616 | 16.2 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,593 | 40.7 | −13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,725 | 78.5 | +3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,887 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 25,028 | 61.4 | −0.8 |
| | Plaid Cymru | H G Evans | 7,305 | 17.9 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | M Harris | 4,641 | 11.4 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal | D Owen | 3,759 | 9.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,723 | 43.5 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,733 | 77.9 | −0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,257 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1979: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 27,071 | 64.5 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | C Sandy | 8,455 | 20.1 | +8.7 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Aled Gwyn | 6,430 | 15.3 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,616 | 44.4 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,956 | 81.2 | +3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,659 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 22,670 | 53.6 | −10.9 |
| | SDP | Keith Davies | 9,066 | 21.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Richard Buckley | 7,350 | 17.4 | −2.7 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Ieuan Owen | 3,046 | 7.2 | −8.1 |
| | Computer Democrat | J Donovan | 150 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,604 | 32.2 | −12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,282 | 76.5 | −4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,272 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1987: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Coleman | 27,612 | 63.4 | +9.8 |
| | Conservative | Martin Howe | 7,034 | 16.1 | −1.3 |
| | SDP | John Warman | 6,132 | 14.1 | −7.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Huw John | 2,792 | 6.4 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,578 | 47.3 | +15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,570 | 78.8 | +2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,261 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

1991 Neath by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Hain | 17,962 | 51.7 | −11.7 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Dewi Evans | 8,132 | 23.3 | +16.9 |
| | Conservative | Richard Evans | 2,995 | 8.6 | −7.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Lloyd | 2,000 | 5.8 | −8.3 |
| | SDP | John Warman | 1,826 | 5.3 | N/A |
| | Local Independent Labour | Rhys Jeffreys | 1,253 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | David Sutch | 263 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Captain Beany of the Bean Party | Barry Kirk | 262 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,830 | 28.4 | −18.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,753 | 64.0 | −14.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,482 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election 1992: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Hain | 30,903 | 68.0 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | David R. Adams | 6,928 | 15.2 | −0.9 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Dewi R. Evans | 5,145 | 11.3 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Phillips | 2,467 | 5.4 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,975 | 52.8 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,443 | 80.6 | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,392 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election 1997: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Hain | 30,324 | 73.5 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | David M. Evans | 3,583 | 8.7 | −6.5 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Trefor Jones | 3,344 | 8.1 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank H. Little | 2,597 | 6.3 | +0.9 |
| | Referendum | Peter A. Morris | 975 | 2.4 | N/A |
| | Legalise Cannabis Party | Howard Marks | 420 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,741 | 64.8 | +12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,243 | 74.3 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,541 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.1 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Hain | 21,253 | 60.7 | −12.8 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Alun Llewelyn | 6,437 | 18.4 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dai Davies | 3,335 | 9.5 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | David Devine | 3,310 | 9.5 | +0.8 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Huw Pudner | 483 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | ProLife Alliance | Gerry Brienza | 202 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,816 | 42.3 | −22.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,020 | 62.5 | −11.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,001 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -11.5 | |
General election 2005: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Hain | 18,835 | 52.6 | −8.1 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Geraint Owen | 6,125 | 17.1 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Waye | 5,112 | 14.3 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative | Harri Davies | 4,136 | 11.5 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Susan Jay | 658 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Gerry Brienza | 360 | 1.0 | N/A |
| | Legalise Cannabis | Pat Tabram | 334 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | Respect | Heather Falconer | 257 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,710 | 35.5 | −6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,817 | 62.2 | −0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 57,278 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −3.4 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2010: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Hain | 17,172 | 46.3 | −6.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Alun Llywelyn | 7,397 | 19.9 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Little | 5,535 | 14.9 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative | Emmeline Owens | 4,847 | 13.1 | +1.6 |
| | BNP | Michael Green | 1,342 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | UKIP | James Bevan | 829 | 2.2 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 67 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,775 | 26.4 | −9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,122 | 64.9 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 57,295 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.6 | |
Of the 67 rejected ballots:
* 44 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
* 22 voted for more than one candidate.
* 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.
General election 2015: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Christina Rees | 16,270 | 43.8 | −2.5 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Daniel Thomas | 6,722 | 18.1 | −1.8 |
| | UKIP | Richard Pritchard | 6,094 | 16.4 | +14.2 |
| | Conservative | Ed Hastie | 5,691 | 15.3 | +2.2 |
| | Green | Catrin Brock | 1,185 | 3.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clare Bentley | 1,173 | 3.2 | −11.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 114 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,548 | 25.7 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,135 | 66.2 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,097 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
Of the 114 rejected ballots:
* 81 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
* 33 voted for more than one candidate.
General election 2017: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Christina Rees | 21,713 | 56.7 | +12.9 |
| | Conservative | Orla Lowe | 9,082 | 23.7 | +8.4 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Daniel Williams | 5,339 | 13.9 | −4.2 |
| | UKIP | Richard Pritchard | 1,419 | 3.7 | −12.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Little | 732 | 1.9 | −1.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 83 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,631 | 33.0 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,285 | 68.5 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,862 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
Of the 83 rejected ballots:
* 57 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
* 22 voted for more than one candidate.
* 3 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.
* 1 had want of official mark.
General election 2019: Neath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Christina Rees | 15,920 | 43.3 | −13.4 |
| | Conservative | Jon Burns | 10,283 | 28.0 | +4.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Daniel Williams | 4,495 | 12.2 | −1.7 |
| | Brexit Party | Simon Briscoe | 3,184 | 8.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Kingston-Jones | 1,485 | 4.0 | +2.1 |
| | Green | Megan Lloyd | 728 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | Philip Rogers | 594 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | SDP | Carl Williams | 67 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 107 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,637 | 15.3 | −17.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,756 | 65.2 | −3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,416 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | −8.8 | |
Of the 107 rejected ballots:
* 84 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
* 23 voted for more than one candidate.