1995 Cardiff Council election explained

Election Name:1995 Cardiff Council election
Country:Wales
Flag Image:Flag of Cardiff.svg
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Majority Seats:34
Election Date:4 May 1995
Party1:Welsh Labour Party
Seats1:56
Seat Change1:N/A
Popular Vote1:133,992
Party2:Welsh Liberal Democrats
Seats2:9
Seat Change2:N/A
Popular Vote2:40,633
Party3:Welsh Conservative Party
Seats3:1
Seat Change3:N/A
Popular Vote3:38,851
Party4:Plaid Cymru
Seats4:1
Seat Change4:N/A
Popular Vote4:7,428
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election
Before Election:N/A

The 1995 Cardiff Council election was the first election to the new unitary County Council of the City and County of Cardiff following the re-organization of local government in Wales. It was held on Thursday 4 May 1995.[1] It was followed by the 1999 elections. On the same day there were elections to the other 21 local authorities in Wales and community councils in Wales. Labour won a majority of the seats.[2] It was preceded in Cardiff by the 1991 elections to Cardiff City Council and the 1993 elections to South Glamorgan County Council.

Overview

All council seats were up for election. These were the first elections held following local government reorganisation, which created new 'super authorities' and would lead to the abolition of South Glamorgan County Council on 1 April 1996. Cardiff councillors would act in a shadow capacity to the new Cardiff Council, until the following April.[3]

The ward boundaries for the new authority were based on the previous Cardiff City Council. In addition, the Creigiau ward which was previously within Taff Ely Borough Council was included within the new authority.

Candidates

All 67 seats were contested by the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, whilst the Conservative Party contested 58, and Plaid Cymru contested 28. The majority of the sitting members on the two previous authorities stood for election.

Members of the Cardiff City Council[4] prior to the election are denoted with *

Members of South Glamorgan County Council[5] prior to the election are denoted with +

Outcome

Labour won an overwhelming majority, including wards that had been held on predecessor councils by the Conservatives for many years. A number of long-serving Conservative councillors failed to be elected. The Liberal Democrats captured wards where they had been successful in the past but the party also lost some ground. Plaid Cymru had their first Cardiff councillor elected for 27 years, in the Creigiau ward.

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Ward Results

Adamsdown (2 seats)

Former city mayor, Bill Herbert, was rejected as Labour's candidate in favour of South Glamorgan councillor and county highways chairman, Ken Hutchings. Herbert stood as an Independent.[6]

Whitchurch & Tongwynlais (4 seats)

By-elections between 1995 and 1999

Plasnewydd

The by-election was called following the election of Cllr. Julie Morgan as the Member for the Parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North.

Rhiwbina

Notes and References

  1. News: Cardiff - Plaid's return to the capital - Results . . 5 May 1995 . 6–7 .
  2. Web site: Cardiff Council Election Results 1995-2012. The Elections Cente, Plymouth University. 23 June 2016.
  3. News: Voters go to the polls . South Wales Echo . 4 May 1995 . 3 . Voters went to the polls today as local government in Wales undergoes its biggest shake up for 21 years. Twenty two new super-councils will take over the functions of 37 district and eight county authorities, which are being abolished from April next year... Until April next year, the councillors will act in a shadow capacity and many will serve on two or three authorities at the same time. .
  4. Web site: Cardiff Welsh District Council Election Results 1973-1991. The Elections Centre (Plymouth University) . 21 June 2019.
  5. Web site: South Glamorgan County Council Election Results 1973-1993. The Elections Centre (Plymouth University). 21 June 2019.
  6. News: Former mayor rejected . South Wales Echo . 5 May 1995 . 6 .