2019 United Kingdom general election in Wales

The 2019 United Kingdom general election was held on 12 December 2019 to elect all 650 members of the House of Commons, including the 40 Welsh seats.

2019 United Kingdom general election in Wales

← 2017 12 December 2019 (2019-12-12) 2024 →

All 40 Welsh seats to the House of Commons
Turnout66.6% Decrease2.0%
  First party Second party Third party
  Jeremy Corbyn Boris Johnson Adam Price
Leader Jeremy Corbyn Boris Johnson Adam Price[1]
Party Labour Conservative Plaid Cymru
Leader since 12 September 2015 23 July 2019 28 September 2018
Last election 28 seats, 48.9% 8 seats, 33.6% 4 seats, 10.4%
Seats before 28 8 4
Seats won 22 14 4
Seat change Decrease6 Increase6 Steady0
Popular vote 632,035 557,234 153,265
Percentage 40.9 36.1 9.9
Swing Decrease8.0% Increase2.5% Decrease0.5%

Results by constituency

The Labour Party won the most votes and seats in Wales, but the Conservative Party made gains in Wales and won across the UK.[2]

Compared to the 2017 general election, Labour lost six seats, each of which was won by the Conservatives. This reflected a decrease in vote share of 8% from the Labour Party, matched by increases in vote share for the Brexit Party and Conservative Party of 5.4% and 2.5%, respectively. However, the Labour Party remained the party receiving the most votes, with a 40.9% vote share. Having gained Brecon and Radnorshire in the 2019 Brecon and Radnorshire by-election earlier in the year, the Welsh Liberal Democrats lost to the Conservatives. Plaid Cymru retained its four seats. The party did not make any gains, and its total vote share was down 0.5%.

Overall, 1,544,357 votes were cast in Wales, reflecting a turnout of 66.6% of the electorate.

Electoral system

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MPs are elected in 40 Single Member constituencies by the first-past-the-post system.

History and background

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The election was called on 29 October 2019, when its date was fixed as 12 December.

In the European Elections in Wales of June 2019, the Brexit Party, newly formed, had taken 32.5% of the votes and won two seats, Plaid Cymru had come second with 20% and one MEP, Jill Evans, and Labour had finished third, with 15.3% and also one MEP, Jackie Jones.[3]

In the run-up to the general election, the Conservative party suspended the whip of one of its MPs, Guto Bebb of Aberconwy, who then sat as an independent until the end of the parliament and did not seek re-election.[4] Additionally, the Conservative party lost a by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire[5] to the Liberal Democrats. Before the election, the numbers were 28 Labour MPs, six Conservative, four Plaid, one Liberal Democrat, and one Independent (Bebb).

Plaid Cymru had gained one seat in the previous election. The party was for stopping Brexit and holding a second referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which was at odds with how Wales had voted in the 2016 referendum. The party did not make any gains, and its total vote share was down 0.5%.

Target seats

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Labour

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Plaid Cymru

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Results

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Map of constituencies by winner vote share
Party[6] Seats Votes
Total Gains Losses Net +/- % seats Total % Change
Labour 22 0 6   6 55 632,035 40.9   8.0
Conservative 14 6[a] 0   6 35 557,234 36.1   2.5
Plaid Cymru 4 0 0   10 153,265 9.9   0.5
Liberal Democrats 0 0 0[b]   0 92,171 6.0   1.5
Brexit Party 0 0 0   0 83,908 5.4 N/A
Green 0 0 0   0 15,828 1.0   0.7
  Independents 0 0 0[c]   0 6,220 0.4 N/A
Gwlad Gwlad 0 0 0   0 1,515 0.1 N/A
Cynon Valley 0 0 0   0 1,322 0.1 N/A
Monster Raving Loony 0 0 0   0 345 0.0  
Christian 0 0 0   0 245 0.0 N/A[d]
SDP 0 0 0   0 181 0.0 N/A[d]
Socialist (GB) 0 0 0   0 88 0.0 N/A
Total 40 1,544,357 Turnout 66.6
  1. ^ Not including Brecon and Radnorshire and Aberconwy, which the Conservative Party won in 2017 but did not control when parliament was dissolved.
  2. ^ Not including Brecon and Radnorshire, which the Liberal Democrats won in a 2019 by-election.
  3. ^ Not including Aberconwy, previously controlled by the independent Guto Bebb who lost the Conservative Party whip in 2019.
  4. ^ a b Party entered candidates in the 2017 general election but not in any Welsh seats.
Popular vote
Labour
40.9%
Conservative
36.1%
Plaid Cymru
9.9%
Liberal Democrats
6.0%
Brexit Party
5.0%
Greens
1.0%
Parliament seats
Labour
55%
Conservative
35%
Plaid Cymru
10%

Results by constituency

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Constituency[7] County 2017
result
2019 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority Lab Con PC LD Brx Grn Other Total
Aberavon WGM Lab Lab 17,008 53.8% 10,490 62.3% 17,008 6,518 2,711 1,072 3,108 450 731 31,598
Aberconwy CON Con Con 14,687 46.1% 2,034 71.3% 12,653 14,687 2,704 1,821 31,865
Alyn and Deeside CON Lab Lab 18,271 42.5% 213 68.5% 18,271 18,058 1,453 2,548 2,678 43,003
Arfon GWN PC PC 13,134 45.2% 2,781 68.9% 10,353 4,428 13,134 1,159 29,074
Blaenau Gwent GNT Lab Lab 14,862 49.2% 8,647 59.6% 14,862 5,749 1,722 1,285 6,215 386 30,219
Brecon and Radnorshire POW Con Con 21,958 53.1% 7,131 74.5% 3,944 21,958 14,827 590 41,319
Bridgend MGM Lab Con 18,193 43.1% 1,157 66.7% 17,036 18,193 2,013 2,368 1,811 815 42,236
Caerphilly GNT Lab Lab 18,018 44.9% 6,833 63.5% 18,018 11,185 6,424 4,490 40,117
Cardiff Central SGM Lab Lab 25,605 61.2% 17,179 65.3% 25,605 8,426 6,298 1,006 487 41,822
Cardiff North SGM Lab Lab 26,064 49.5% 6,982 77.0% 26,064 19,082 1,606 3,580 1,311 820 203 52,666
Cardiff South and Penarth SGM Lab Lab 27,382 54.1% 12,737 64.2% 27,382 14,645 2,386 2,985 1,999 1,182 50,579
Cardiff West SGM Lab Lab 23,908 51.8% 10,986 67.4% 23,908 12,922 3,864 2,731 1,619 1,133 45,817
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr DFD PC PC 15,939 38.9% 1,809 71.4% 8,622 14,130 15,939 2,311 40,456
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire DFD Con Con 22,183 52.7% 7,745 71.8% 14,438 22,183 3,633 1,860 42,114
Ceredigion DFD PC PC 15,208 37.9% 6,329 71.3% 6,317 8,879 15,208 6,975 2,063 663 40,105
Clwyd South CON Lab Con 16,222 44.7% 1,239 67.3% 14,983 16,222 2,137 1,496 1,468 36,306
Clwyd West CON Con Con 20,403 50.7% 6,747 69.7% 13,656 20,403 3,907 2,237 40,203
Cynon Valley MGM Lab Lab 15,533 51.4% 8,822 59.1% 15,533 6,711 2,562 949 3,045 1,436 30,236
Delyn CON Lab Con 16,756 43.7% 865 70.3% 15,891 16,756 1,406 2,346 1,971 38,370
Dwyfor Meirionnydd GWN PC PC 14,447 48.3% 4,740 67.5% 3,998 9,707 14,447 1,776 29,928
Gower WGM Lab Lab 20,208 45.4% 1,837 72.0% 20,208 18,371 2,288 2,236 1,379 44,482
Islwyn GNT Lab Lab 15,356 44.7% 5,464 62.0% 15,356 9,892 2,286 1,313 4,834 669 34,350
Llanelli DFD Lab Lab 16,125 42.2% 4,670 63.2% 16,125 11,455 7,048 3,605 38,233
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney GNT Lab Lab 16,913 52.4% 10,606 57.3% 16,913 6,307 2,446 1,116 3,604 1,860 32,246
Monmouth GNT Con Con 26,160 52.1% 9,982 74.8% 16,178 26,160 1,182 4,909 1,353 435 50,217
Montgomeryshire POW Con Con 20,020 58.5% 12,138 69.8% 5,585 20,020 7,882 727 34,241
Neath WGM Lab Lab 15,920 43.3% 5,637 65.2% 15,920 10,283 4,495 1,485 3,184 728 661 36,756
Newport East GNT Lab Lab 16,125 44.4% 1,992 62.0% 16,125 14,133 872 2,121 2,454 577 36,282
Newport West GNT Lab Lab 18,977 43.7% 902 65.2% 18,977 18,075 1,187 2,565 1,727 902 43,433
Ogmore MGM Lab Lab 17,602 49.7% 7,805 61.5% 17,602 9,797 2,919 1,460 2,991 621 35,390
Pontypridd MGM Lab Lab 17,381 44.5% 5,887 64.7% 17,381 11,494 4,990 2,917 2,278 39,060
Preseli Pembrokeshire DFD Con Con 21,381 50.4% 5,062 71.2% 16,319 21,381 2,776 1,943 42,419
Rhondda MGM Lab Lab 16,115 54.4% 11,440 59.0% 16,115 4,675 4,069 612 3,733 438 29,642
Swansea East WGM Lab Lab 17,405 51.8% 7,970 57.4% 17,405 9,435 1,905 1,409 2,842 583 33,579
Swansea West WGM Lab Lab 18,493 51.6% 8,116 62.8% 18,493 10,377 1,984 2,993 1,983 35,830
Torfaen GNT Lab Lab 15,546 41.8% 3,742 60.2% 15,546 11,804 1,441 1,831 5,742 812 37,176
Vale of Clwyd CON Lab Con 17,270 46.4% 1,827 65.7% 15,443 17,270 1,552 1,471 1,477 37,213
Vale of Glamorgan SGM Con Con 27,305 49.8% 3,562 71.6% 23,743 27,305 3,251 508 54,807
Wrexham CON Lab Con 15,199 45.3% 2,131 67.4% 13,068 15,199 2,151 1,447 1,222 445 33,532
Ynys Môn GWN Lab Con 12,959 35.5% 1,968 70.4% 10,991 12,959 10,418 2,184 36,552
Total for all constituencies Turnout Total
Lab Con PC LD Brx Grn Other
Votes
66.6% 632,035 557,234 153,265 92,171 83,908 15,828 9,916 1,544,357
40.9% 36.1% 9.9% 6.0% 5.4% 1.0% 0.6% 100.0%
Seats
22 14 4 0 0 0 0 40
55% 35% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100.0%

Opinion polling

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(Includes polls in which polling concluded on or before: 31 May 2019)

Pollster/client(s) Date(s)
conducted
Sample
size
Lab Con Plaid Cymru Lib Dem UKIP Green Change UK Brexit Other Lead
2019 general election 12 Dec 2019 40.9% 36.1% 9.9% 6.0% 1.0% 5.4% 0.6% 4.8%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 22–25 Nov 2019 1,116 38% 32% 11% 9% 1% 8% 1% 6%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 31 Oct–4 Nov 2019 1,136 29% 28% 12% 12% 0% 3% 0% 15% 1% 1%
YouGov/ITV News 10–14 October 2019 1,071 25% 29% 12% 16% 4% 14% 1% 4%
1 August 2019 Brecon and Radnorshire by-election[8]
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 23–28 July 2019 1,071 22% 24% 15% 16% 3% 18% 1% 2%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 16–20 May 2019 1,009 25% 17% 13% 12% 1% 5% 2% 23% 2% 2%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 2–5 Apr 2019 1,025 33% 26% 15% 7% 3% 2% 9% 4% 1% 7%
4 April 2019 Newport West by-election[8]
ICM/BBC Wales 7–23 Feb 2019 1,000 42% 33% 13% 6% 3% 1% 2% 9%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 19–22 Feb 2019 1,025 35% 29% 14% 8% 6% 3% 4% 6%
Sky Data/Cardiff University 7–14 Dec 2018 1,014 45% 32% 14% 3% 4% 2% 1% 13%
6–13 Dec 2018 Mark Drakeford becomes leader of Welsh Labour and First Minister[9][10]
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 4–7 Dec 2018 1,024 43% 31% 13% 6% 3% 3% 1% 12%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 30 Oct–2 Nov 2018 1,031 42% 33% 10% 7% 4% 2% 1% 9%
Survation/Channel 4 20 Oct–2 Nov 2018 1,177 47% 30% 13% 6% 3% 2% 0% 17%
28 September 2018 Adam Price becomes leader of Plaid Cymru[11]
6 September 2018 Paul Davies becomes leader of the Welsh Conservatives[12]
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 28 Jun–2 Jul 2018 1,031 44% 31% 13% 5% 3% 2% 1% 13%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 12–15 Mar 2018 1,015 46% 33% 11% 4% 4% 2% 1% 13%
ICM/BBC Wales 8–25 Feb 2018 1,001 49% 32% 11% 5% 2% 1% 0% 17%
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 21–24 Nov 2017 1,016 47% 31% 11% 5% 3% 2% 1% 16%
3 November 2017 Jane Dodds becomes leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats[13]
YouGov/ITV Cymru Wales/Cardiff University 4–7 Sep 2017 1,011 50% 32% 8% 4% 3% 1% 1% 18%
2017 general election 8 June 2017 48.9% 33.6% 10.4% 4.5% 2.0% 0.3% 0.2% 15.4%

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Serves as an MS in the Welsh Assembly for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.
  2. ^ "UK Election Statistics: 1918-2022, A Long Century of Elections" (PDF). House of Commons Library. p. 22.
  3. ^ Statement of Parties Nominated and Notice of Poll / Datganiad o’r Pleidiau a Enwebwyd a Rhybudd o Etholiad [permanent dead link] Cardiff City Council
  4. ^ Mikhailova, Anna (4 September 2019). "Boris Johnson to strip 21 Tory MPs of the Tory whip in parliamentary bloodbath". Daily Telegraph.
  5. ^ "Brecon and Radnorshire by-election: Lib Dems beat Conservatives". BBC News. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Results of the 2019 General Election in Wales". BBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  7. ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2019". BBC News.
  8. ^ a b "By-elections since the 2017 General Election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Welsh Labour leadership: Mark Drakeford set to be Wales' first minister". BBC News. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Wales new First Minister Mark Drakeford is sworn in". BBC News. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Adam Price replaces Wood as Plaid leader". BBC News. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory assembly group leadership poll". BBC News. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Jane Dodds is new Welsh Liberal Democrat leader". BBC News. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2019.