Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (UK Parliament constituency) explained

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Parliament:	uk
Map1:	MerthyrTydfilRhymney2007
Year:	1983
Abolished:	2024
Type:	County
Elects Howmany:	One
Previous:	Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Bedwellty and Brecon & Radnor^[1]
Electorate:	55,409 (December 2010)^[2]
Region:	Wales
European:	Wales
National:	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, South Wales East

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Welsh: Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni) was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was established for the 1983 general election.

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 United Kingdom general election. Its wards were split between Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, and Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare.^[3]

Boundaries

1983–1997: The Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, and the District of Rhymney Valley wards Nos. 5 and 14 to 20.

1997–2010: The County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, and the Caerphilly County Borough wards of Abertysswg, Darren Valley, Moriah, New Tredegar, Pontlottyn, Tir-Phil, and Twyn Carno.

2010–2024: The Merthyr Tydfil County Borough electoral divisions of Bedlinog, Cyfarthfa, Dowlais, Gurnos, Merthyr Vale, Park, Penydarren, Plymouth, Town, Treharris, and Vaynor, and the Caerphilly County Borough electoral divisions of Darran Valley, Moriah, New Tredegar, Pontlottyn, and Twyn Carno.

As its name suggests, the main towns were Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Aberfan was also located in the constituency. The seat was bordered by the constituencies of Blaenau Gwent, Brecon and Radnorshire, Caerphilly, Cynon Valley, and Islwyn.

History

The constituency was created for the 1983 general election. Prior to this, Merthyr Tydfil had been in its own eponymous constituency, and Rhymney was in the seat of Ebbw Vale (at the time Michael Foot's constituency), which was abolished at that election.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
	1983	Ted Rowlands	Labour
	2001	Dai Havard	Labour
	2015	Gerald Jones	Labour
	2024	Constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Of the 80 rejected ballots:

• 22 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
• 57 voted for more than one candidate.
• 1 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.

Of the 95 rejected ballots:

• 49 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
• 46 voted for more than one candidate.

Of the 71 rejected ballots:

• 41 were either unmarked or it was uncertain who the vote was for.
• 30 voted for more than one candidate.

Of the 83 rejected ballots:

• 23 voted for more than one candidate.
• 4 had writing or mark by which the voter could be identified.
• 56 had want of official mark.

See also

• • Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Senedd constituency) List of parliamentary constituencies in Mid Glamorgan
• List of parliamentary constituencies in Wales

External links

• Politics Resources (Election results from 1922 onwards)
• Electoral Calculus (Election results from 1955 onwards)
• 2017 Election House Of Commons Library 2017 Election report
• A Vision Of Britain Through Time (Constituency elector numbers)
• Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney', June 1983 up to May 1997. ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. 12 March 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313023636/http://electionweb.co.uk/Bp/P83400.htm. 13 March 2016.
2. Web site: Beyond 20/20 WDS - Table view. 1 December 2010. 2011 Electorate Figures. StatsWales. 13 March 2011. 3 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111003195548/http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=14666. dead.
3. Book: 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies - The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales . 28 June 2023 . Boundary Commission for Wales.