Welsh Conservative Party

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Welsh Conservative Party
Plaid Geidwadol Cymru
Leader David Cameron
Leader of the Conservatives in the National Assembly for Wales: Nick Bourne
Founded 1921
Headquarters 4 Penlline Road, Cardiff, CF14 2XS
Ideology Conservatism,
British unionism
Political position Centre-right
International affiliation International Democrat Union
European affiliation Movement for European Reform
European Parliament Group European Conservatives and Reformists
Official colours Blue
Website
Welsh Conservative Party
Politics of Wales
Political parties
Elections

The Welsh Conservative & Unionist Party (Welsh: Plaid Geidwadol Cymru), informally the Welsh Conservative Party or Welsh Tories, 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 13 of 60 seats in the National Assembly for Wales.

Contents

[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)
2009 21.2% 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 22.4% 21.4% 5 (of 40) 7 (of 20)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jones, B, Welsh Elections 1885 - 1997(1999), Lolfa
  2. ^ Melding, D, Have We Been Anti-Welsh? The Conservative Party and the Welsh Nation (2005), Cymdeithas Y Kymberiaid
  3. ^ BBC News - Labour agrees historic coalition
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