Election 97

Brecon and Radnorshire


Result 97 gain
from Conservative
Current MP 97 Jonathan Evans
Majority 0 ( 0.0%)
Conservative 97 12,419 (29.0%)
Labour 97 11,424 (26.6%)
LibDem 97 17,516 (40.8%)
Nationalist 97 622 ( 1.5%)
Other 97 900 ( 2.1%)
Elected party 97
Electorate 97 52,142
Turnout 97 42,881 (82.2%)



1992 MP Jonathan Evans
Old constituency name Brecon and Radnor
Majority 92 130 ( 0.3%)
Conservative 92 15,977 (36.1%)
Labour 92 11,634 (26.3%)
LibDem 92 15,847 (35.8%)
Nationalist 92 418 ( 0.9%)
Other 92 393 ( 0.9%)
Elected party 92 Conservative
Electorate 92 52,488
Turnout 92 44,269 (84.3%)
Brecon and Radnorshire



Tory change -7.1%
Labour change +0.4%
Lib Dem change +5.1%
Nationalist change +0.5%
Other change +1.2%
Electorate change -0.7%
Turnout Change -2.1%
Robert Waller wrote

A slightly altered name - this seat used to be just Brecon and Radnor - but no actual boundary changes in this marginal seat in mid-Wales. It has had an interesting electoral history. There is a Labour presence, concentrated on the southern edge of the constituency in the ex-mining valley territory around Ystradgynlais. However, in recent years Labour has done no better than finish a strong third, behind a very tight series of battles between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

These started with the by-election caused by the death of the sitting Tory MP Tom Hooson in 1985. This gave an opportunity for the Liberal Alliance, as it then was, to win, in the shape of Richard Livsey. He held on in 1987, just, but not in 1992 when the Conservatives recaptured Brecon and Radnor by just 130 votes.

All three parties have a chance of winning here in 1997. This is the largest seat in area in Wales, mainly relying on agriculture, with hill farms set between the small towns like Hay on Wye and Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells and Brecon itself. Contests here are intense and personal, and it is very difficult to predict what will happen on the basis of mere national swings.


Super Profiles

2,440 8.27 9.03 92
5,326 18.05 11.17 162
1,631 5.53 11.25 49
765 2.59 14.70 18
207 0.70 10.45 7
5,464 18.52 2.81 658
2,109 7.15 8.01 89
8,926 30.25 15.25 198
396 1.34 7.13 19
1,147 3.89 10.17 38