On Thursday 1 May 1997, the 1997 United Kingdom general election was held in Wales, to elect all 659 members of the House of Commons, with 40 constituencies being in Wales. The Labour Party won a landslide majority of Welsh MPs, gaining seven seats for a total of 34 out of 40. The Liberal Democrats gained one seat, whilst Plaid Cymru retained their four MPs.
The Conservatives lost all of their Welsh MPs, leaving them without representation in Wales for the first time since the 1906 general election. They would not gain another MP until the 2005 general election.
Candidates
Below is a table summarising the candidates of the 1997 general election in Wales.
Affiliation CandidatesLabour Party 40Conservative Party 40Liberal Democrats 40Plaid Cymru 40Referendum Party 35Natural Law Party 5 Socialist Labour Party 5Green Party of England and Wales 4Independent 3UK Independence Party 2Socialist Party 2Independent Labour 1Communist Party of Britain 1ProLife Alliance 1Official Monster Raving Loony Party 1New Labour 1Conservatory 1Cannabis Law Reform 1Total 223
Results Below is a table summarising the results of the 1997 general election in Wales.
+PartySeatsAggregate votes Total Gains Losses Net Of total (%) Total Of total (%) Change (%) 34 7 0 7 85.0 886,935 54.7 5.2 0 0 8 8 — 317,145 19.6 9.0 2 1 0 1 5.0 200,020 12.4 0.1 4 0 0 10.0 161,030 10.0 1.1 0 colspan="3" — 38,245 2.4 0 colspan="3" — 6,203 0.4 New Labour 0 colspan=3 — 3,942 0.2 0 0 0 — 1,718 0.1 0.3 0 0 0 — 713 0.0 0 colspan=3 — 691 0.0 0 colspan="3" — 633 0.0 0 colspan="3" — 616 0.0 Conservatory 0 colspan="3" — 583 0.0 0 0 0 — 516 0.0 0.1 0 colspan="3" — 420 0.2 0 colspan="3" — 270 0.0 0 colspan="3" — 204 0.0 0 0 0 — 178 0.0 Total 40 0 100.0 1,620,256 100.0 0.0 Registered voters, and turnout 73.5 6.2
Results by constituency
The following is the results by constituency by Senedd electoral region: Mid and West Wales Mid and West Wales elected 8 Members of Parliament. ConstituencyCandidatesIncumbentLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratPlaid CymruReferendumOtherBrecon and RadnorshireChristopher Mann 11,424 (26.6%)Jonathan Evans 12,419 (29.0%)Richard Livsey 17,516 (40.8%)Steven Cornelius 622 (1.5%)Elizabeth Phillips 900 (2.1%) Jonathan EvansCarmarthen East and Dinefwr Alan Williams 17,907 (42.9%)Edmund Hayward 5,022 (12.0%)Juliana Hughes 3,150 (7.5%)Rhodri Glyn Thomas 14,457 (34.6%)Ian Humphreys-Evans 1,196 (2.9%) Alan Williams‡ (Carmarthen)Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Nick Ainger 20,956 (49.1%)Owen Williams 11,335 (26.6%)Keith Evans 3,516 (8.2%)Roy Llewellyn 5,402 (12.7%)Joy Poirrier 1,432 (3.4%) Nick Ainger‡ (Pembrokeshire)CeredigionRobert (Hag) Harris 9,767 (24.3%)Felix Aubel 5,983 (14.9%)Dai Davies 6,616 (16.5%)Cynog Dafis 16,728 (41.6%)John Leaney 1,092 (2.7%)Cynog Dafis‡ (Ceredigion and Pembroke North)Llanelli Denzil Davies 23,851 (57.9%)Andrew Hayes 5,003 (12.1%)Nick Burree 3,788 (9.2%)Marc Phillips 7,812 (19.0%)John Willock (SLP) 757 (1.8%) Denzil DaviesMeirionnydd Nant ConwyHefin E. Rees 5,660 (23.0%)Jeremy Quin 3,922 (16.0%)Robina L. Feeley 1,719 (7.0%)Elfyn Llwyd 12,465 (50.7%)Phillip H. Hodge 809 (3.3%)Elfyn LlwydMontgomeryshireAngharad Davies 6,109 (19.1%)Glyn Davies 8,344 (26.1%)Lembit Öpik 14,647 (45.9%)Helen Mary Jones 1,608 (5.0%)John Bufton 879 (2.8%)Susan Walker (Green) 338 (1.1%)Alex Carlile†Preseli Pembrokeshire Jackie Lawrence 20,477 (48.3%)Robert Buckland 11,741 (27.7%)Jeffrey Clarke 5,527 (13.0%)Alun Jones 2,683 (6.3%)David Berry 1,574 (3.7%)Molly Scott Cato (Green) 401 (0.9%) Nick Ainger‡ (Pembrokeshire)
North Wales North Wales elected 9 Members of Parliament. ConstituencyCandidatesIncumbentLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratPlaid CymruReferendumOtherAlyn and Deeside Barry Jones 25,955 (61.9%)Timothy P. Roberts 9,552 (22.8%)Eleanor Burnham 4,076 (9.7%)Siw Hills 738 (1.8%)Malcolm J. D. Jones 1,627 (3.9%) Barry JonesCaernarfonEifion Wyn Williams 10,167 (29.5%)Elwyn Williams 4,230 (12.3%)Mary Macqueen 1,686 (4.9%)Dafydd Wigley 17,616 (51.0%)Clive Collins 811 (2.4%)Dafydd WigleyConwy Betty Williams 14,561 (35.0%)David Jones 10,085 (24.3%)Roger Roberts 12,965 (31.2%)Rhodri Davies 2,844 (6.8%)Allan Barham 760 (1.8%)Richard Bradley (Ind.) 250 (0.6%)David Hughes (NLP) 95 (0.2%) Wyn Roberts†Clwyd South Martyn Jones 22,901 (58.1%)Boris Johnson 9,091 (23.1%)Andrew Chadwick 3,684 (9.4%)Gareth Williams 2,500 (6.3%)Alex Lewis 1,207 (3.1%) Martyn Jones‡ (Clwyd South West)Clwyd West Gareth Thomas 14,918 (37.1%)Rod Richards 13,070 (32.5%)Gwyn Williams 5,151 (12.8%)Eryl W. Williams 5,421 (12.8%)Heather Bennett-Collins 1,114 (2.8%)David K. Neal (Conservatory) 583 (1.3%) Rod Richards‡ (Clwyd North West)Delyn David Hanson 23,300 (57.2%)Karen Lumley 10,607 (26.0%)David Lloyd 4,160 (10.2%)Ashley J. Drake 1,558 (3.8%)Elizabeth H. Soutter 1,117 (2.7%) David HansonVale of Clwyd Chris Ruane 20,617 (52.7%)David Edwards 11,662 (29.8%)Daniel Munford 3,425 (8.8%)Gwyneth Kensler 2,301 (5.9%)Simon Vickers 834 (2.1%)Scott Cooke (UKIP) 293 (0.7%)New constituencyWrexham John Marek 20,450 (56.1%)Stuart Andrew 8,688 (23.9%)Andrew Thomas 4,833 (13.3%)Kevin Plant 1,170 (3.2%)John Cronk 1,195 (3.3%)Nicholas Low (NLP) 86 (0.2%) John MarekYnys MônOwen Edwards 13,275 (33.2%)Gwilym Owen 8,569 (21.5%)Deric Burnham 1,537 (3.8%)Ieuan Wyn Jones 15,756 (39.5%)Hugh Gray-Morris 793 (2.0%)Ieuan Wyn Jones
South Central Wales South Central Wales elected 8 Members of Parliament. ConstituencyCandidatesIncumbentLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratPlaid CymruReferendumOtherCardiff Central Jon Owen Jones 18,464 (43.7%)David Melding 8,470 (20.0%)Jenny Randerson 10,541 (24.9%)Wayne Vernon 1,504 (3.6%)Nick Lloyd 760 (1.8%)Terence Burns (SLP) 2,230 (5.3%)Craig James (OMRLP) 204 (0.5%)Anthony Hobbs (NLP) 80 (0.2%) Jon Owen JonesCardiff North Julie Morgan 24,460 (50.4%)Gwilym Jones 16,334 (33.7%)Robyn Rowland 5,294 (10.9%)Colin Palfrey 1,201 (2.5%)Edward J. Litchfield 1,199 (2.5%) Gwilym JonesCardiff South and Penarth Alun Michael 22,647 (53.4%)Caroline E. Roberts 8,786 (20.7%)Simon J. Wakefield 3,964 (9.3%)David B. L. Haswell 1,356 (3.2%)Phillip S. E. Morgan 1,211 (2.9%)John Foreman (New Labour) 3,942 (9.3%)Mike K. Shepherd (Socialist Alternative) 344 (0.8%)Barbara Caves (NLP) 170 (0.4%) Alun MichaelCardiff West Rhodri Morgan 24,297 (60.3%)Simon Hoare 8,669 (21.5%)Jacqui Gasson 4,366 (10.8%)Gwenllian Carr 1,949 (4.8%)Trefor Johns 996 (2.5%) Rhodri MorganCynon Valley Ann Clwyd 23,307 (69.7%)Andrew Smith 2,260 (6.8%)Huw Price 3,459 (10.3%)Alun Davies 3,552 (10.6%)Gwyn John 844 (2.5%) Ann ClwydPontypridd Kim Howells 29,290 (63.9%)Jonathan M. Cowen 5,910 (12.9%)Nigel Howells 6,161 (13.4%)Owain Llewelyn 2,977 (6.5%)John Wood 874 (1.9%)Peter Skelly (SLP) 380 (0.8%)Robert Griffiths (Communist) 178 (0.4%)Anthony G. Moore (NLP) 85 (0.2%) Kim HowellsRhondda Allan Rogers 30,381 (74.5%)Steven Whiting 1,551 (3.8%)Rodney Berman 2,307 (5.7%)Leanne Wood 5,450 (13.4%)Stephen Gardiner 658 (1.6%)Kevin Jakeway (Green) 460 (1.1%) Allan RogersVale of Glamorgan John Smith 29,054 (53.9%)Walter Sweeney 18,522 (34.4%)Suzanne Campbell 4,945 (9.2%)Melanie Corp 1,393 (2.6%) Walter Sweeney
South East Wales South East Wales elected 8 Members of Parliament. ConstituencyCandidatesIncumbentLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratPlaid CymruReferendumOtherBlaenau Gwent Llew Smith 31,493 (79.5%)Margrit A. Williams 2,607 (6.6%)Geraldine Layton 3,458 (8.7%)Jim B. Criddle 2,072 (5.2%) Llew SmithCaerphilly Ron Davies 30,697 (67.3%)Rhodri Harris 4,858 (10.7%)Tony D. Ferguson 3,724 (8.2%)Lindsay Whittle 4,383 (9.7%)Mark E. Morgan 1,337 (3.0%)Catherine Williams (PLA) 270 (0.6%) Ron DaviesIslwyn Don Touhig 26,995 (74.2%)David Walters 2,864 (7.9%)Christopher Worker 3,064 (8.4%)Darren Jones 2,272 (6.2%)Susan Monaghan 1,209 (3.3%) Don TouhigMerthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Ted Rowlands 30,012 (76.7%)Jonathan Morgan 2,508 (6.4%)Duncan Anstey 2,926 (7.5%)Alun Cox 2,344 (6.0%)Ronald Hutchings 660 (1.7%)Alan Cowdell (Ind. Lab.) 691 (1.8%) Ted RowlandsMonmouth Huw Edwards 23,404 (47.7%)Roger Evans 19,226 (39.2%)Mark Williams 4,689 (9.6%)Alan Cotton 516 (1.1%)Timothy Warry 1,190 (2.4%) Roger EvansNewport East Alan Howarth 21,481 (57.7%)David Evans 7,958 (21.4%)Alistair Cameron 3,880 (10.4%)Christopher Holland 721 (1.9%)Edward Chaney-Davis 1,267 (3.4%)Arthur Scargill (SLP) 1,951 (5.2%) Roy Hughes†Newport West Paul Flynn 24,331 (60.5%)Peter Clarke 9,794 (24.4%)Stanley Wilson 3,907 (9.7%)Huw Jackson 648 (1.6%)Andrew Thompsett 1,199 (3.0%)Hugh Hughes (UKIP) 323 (0.3%) Paul FlynnTorfaen Paul Murphy 29,863 (69.1%)Neil Parish 5,327 (12.3%)Jean Gray 5,249 (12.1%)Robert Gough 1,042 (2.4%)Deborah Holler 1,245 (2.9%)Roger Coghill (Green) 519 (1.2%) Paul Murphy
South West Wales South West Wales elected 7 Members of Parliament. ConstituencyCandidatesIncumbentLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratPlaid CymruReferendumOtherAberavon John Morris 25,650 (71.3%)Peter Harper 2,835 (7.9%)Ronald McConville 4,079 (11.3%)Philip Cockwell 2,088 (5.8%)Peter David 970 (2.7%)Captain Beany (Independent) 341 (1.0%) John MorrisBridgend Win Griffiths 25,115 (58.1%)David Davies 9,867 (22.8%)Andrew Mckinlay 4,968 (11.5%)Dennis R. Watkins 1,649 (3.8%)Tudor Greaves 1,662 (3.8%) Win GriffithsGower Martin Caton 23,313 (53.8%)Alun Cairns 10,306 (23.8%)Howard W. Evans 5,624 (13.0%)D Elwyn Williams 2,226 (5.1%)Richard D. Lewis 1,745 (4.0%)Anthony G. Popham (Independent) 122 (0.3%) Gareth Wardell†Neath Peter Hain 30,324 (73.5%)David M. Evans 3,583 (8.7%)Frank H. Little 2,597 (6.3%)Trefor Jones 3,344 (8.1%)Peter A. Morris 975 (2.4%)Howard Marks (Legalise Cannabis Party) 420 (1.0%) Peter HainOgmore Ray Powell 28,163 (74.0%)David A. Unwin 3,716 (9.8%)Kirsty Williams 3,510 (9.2%)John D. Rogers 2,679 (7.0%) Ray PowellSwansea East Donald Anderson 29,151 (75.4%)Catherine Dibble 3,582 (9.3%)Elwyn Jones 3,440 (8.9%)Michelle Pooley 1,308 (2.3%)Catherine Maggs 904 (2.3%)Ronnie Job (Socialist Alternative) 289 (0.8%) Donald AndersonSwansea West Alan Williams 22,748 (56.2%)Andrew Baker 8,289 (20.5%)John Newbury 5,872 (14.5%)Dai Lloyd 2,675 (6.6%)David Proctor (SLP) 885 (2.2%) Alan Williams See also 1997 United Kingdom general election in England 1997 United Kingdom general election in Scotland 1997 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland List of MPs for constituencies in Wales (1997–2001)
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