Welsh Conservative Party
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Welsh Conservative Party
Plaid Geidwadol Cymru |
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| Leader | David Cameron Senior Welsh Conservative: Cheryl Gillan Leader of the Conservative Group in the National Assembly for Wales: Nick Bourne |
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| Founded | 1921 |
| Headquarters | 4 Penlline Road, Cardiff, CF14 2XS |
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| Ideology | Conservatism, Unionism |
| International affiliation | International Democrat Union |
| European affiliation | Movement for European Reform |
| European Parliament Group | ED, within EPP-ED |
| Official colours | Blue |
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| Website www.conservatives.com/wales |
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The Welsh Conservative Party (Welsh: Plaid Geidwadol Cymru), officially the Welsh Conservative & Unionist Party, is the part of the Conservative Party which operates in Wales. In UK General Elections it is the second most popular political party in Wales, having obtained the second largest share of the vote in Wales in a majority of UK General Election since its formation in 1921 (and in every such election since 1931).[1] In Welsh Assembly elections the Welsh Conservatives are the third most supported party.
The Welsh Conservative Party has 1 of 4 Welsh seats in the European Parliament, 3 of 40 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament and 12 of 60 seats in the National Assembly for Wales.
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[edit] History
The Welsh Conservative Party was formed (as the Wales and Monmouthshire Conservative and Unionist Council) in 1921 by the merger of the three existing Welsh Provincial Associations of the Party's National Union. [2] The Welsh Conservative Party was briefly involved in coalition talks after the indecisive 2007 Welsh election on a "rainbow coalition" with the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru which collapsed after the Liberal Democrats backed out. Plaid Cymru and Labour eventually formed the government under the terms of their One Wales agreement. [3] As a result of the agreement, the Conservatives, now the largest opposition party, becomes the Official Opposition in the Welsh Assembly.
[edit] Electoral performance
[edit] European Parliament Elections
| Year | Percentage of vote in Wales | Seats won |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 36.6% | 1 (of 4) |
| 1984 | 25.4% | 1 (of 4) |
| 1989 | 23.5% | 0 (of 4) |
| 1994 | 14.6% | 0 (of 5) |
| 1999 | 22.8% | 1 (of 5) |
| 2004 | 19.4% | 1 (of 4) |
[edit] UK General Elections
| Year | Percentage of vote in Wales | Seats won |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 21.4% | 6 (of 36) |
| 1923 | 21% | 4 (of 36) |
| 1924 | 28.3% | 9 (of 36) |
| 1929 | 21.9% | 1 (of 36) |
| 1931 | 22.1% | 6 (of 36) |
| 1935 | 23.3% | 6 (of 36) |
| 1945 | 16.5% | 3 (of 36) |
| 1950 | 21% | 3 (of 36) |
| 1951 | 27.6% | 5 (of 36) |
| 1955 | 26.7% | 5 (of 36) |
| 1959 | 29.6% | 6 (of 36) |
| 1964 | 27.6% | 6 (of 36) |
| 1966 | 27% | 3 (of 36) |
| 1970 | 27.7% | 7 (of 36) |
| 1974 (Feb) | 25.9% | 8 (of 36) |
| 1974 (Oct) | 23.9% | 8 (of 36) |
| 1979 | 32.2% | 11 (of 36) |
| 1983 | 31% | 14 (of 38) |
| 1987 | 29.5% | 8 (of 38) |
| 1992 | 28.6% | 6 (of 38) |
| 1997 | 19.6% | 0 (of 40) |
| 2001 | 21% | 0 (of 40) |
| 2005 | 21.4% | 3 (of 40) |
[edit] Welsh Assembly Elections
| Year | Percentage of vote (constituency) | Percentage of vote (regional) | Seats won (constituency) | Seats won (regional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 15.8% | 16.5% | 1 (of 40) | 8 (of 20) |
| 2003 | 19.9% | 19.2% | 1 (of 40) | 10 (of 20) |
| 2007 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
[edit] References
- ^ Jones, B, Welsh Elections 1885 - 1997(1999), Lolfa
- ^ Melding, D, Have We Been Anti-Welsh? The Conservative Party and the Welsh Nation (2005), Cymdeithas Y Kymberiaid
- ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | Labour agrees historic coalition
