Latest headlines
- Labour win 29 seats - but fall short of a majority
- UKIP wins its first seats in the Assembly
- Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood ousts Labour in Rhondda
- Mapping the election - see party vote share by constituency across Wales
Scoreboard
| Party | Candidates | Votes | % | Net percentage change in seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party LAB Welsh Labour | CandidatesVikki Howells | Votes9,830 | 51.1% | Net percentage change in seats−10.9 |
| Party PC Plaid Cymru | CandidatesCerith Griffiths | Votes3,836 | 19.9% | Net percentage change in seats−7.3 |
| Party UKIP UKIP Wales | CandidatesLiz Wilks | Votes3,460 | 18.0% | Net percentage change in seats+18.0 |
| Party CON Welsh Conservative | CandidatesLyn Hudson | Votes1,177 | 6.1% | Net percentage change in seats−2.0 |
| Party GRN Wales Green Party | CandidatesJohn Matthews | Votes598 | 3.1% | Net percentage change in seats+3.1 |
| Party LD Welsh Liberal Democrat | CandidatesMichael Wallace | Votes335 | 1.7% | Net percentage change in seats−0.9 |
Change compared with 2011 | ||||
Turnout and Majority
Welsh Labour Majority
5,994Turnout
38.2%Constituency Profile
The Cynon Valley is in the heart of the former coal-mining communities in the south Wales valleys around 25 miles north of Cardiff.
The main town is Aberdare. The area retained its connection to deep mining until relatively recently as the home of Tower Colliery, the pit where miners staged a successful workers' buy-out to extend its life. The constituency has high levels of economic deprivation which are reflected in poor health and above average rates of unemployment. The average life expectancy here of 76.7 is one of the lowest in Wales. The constituency also has the joint-highest level of Economic Inactivity at 26% - defined as people who are not in employment or unemployed. There are many reasons why an individual may be inactive, for example, they might be looking after family or long-term sick. This is one of Labour's safest seats, which has been held by Christine Chapman since 1999, but she will stand down at May's election.
In 2011, Labour won with 62% of the vote and Plaid Cymru came second with 27%.
