2006 Blaenau Gwent by-elections

Two parliamentary by-elections in South Wales in 2006 May 2022 October 2022 By-elections for both the United Kingdom parliamentary and Welsh assembly constituencies of Blaenau Gwent were held on 29 June 2006, triggered by death of incumbent independent Member of Parliament (MP) and Assembly Member (AM) Peter Law on 25 April 2006. Law's successors won both seats: Dai Davies—Law's former election agent—won the UK parliamentary by-election as an independent with support from the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice (BGPV); meanwhile, Trish Law—Peter's widow—who also ran as an independent on a BGPV ticket, won her husband's former seat in the Welsh Assembly. Law denied the Labour Party a victory in the AM by-election which would have restored their majority in the Welsh Assembly; they lost it when her husband was expelled from the party. Davies was the first independent to hold a seat previously occupied by another independent in a by-election since Sir Charles Townshend won the November 1920 The Wrekin by-election. The by-elections were held on the same day 2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election. Westminster by-election 2006 Blaenau Gwent by-election parliamentary Wales The Blaenau Gwent seat in the UK House of Commons.Triggered by death of incumbent no 2005 United Kingdom general election 2005 2010 United Kingdom general election 2010 29 June 2006 50.5% (15.6%) Dai Davies David Davies c215f5bacb.jpg 150 120 160 10 20 center Blank Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group 12,543 46.7 11.5%* Owen Smith Owen Smith 2013 (cropped).jpg 125 120 160 0 0 center Blank Welsh Labour 10,055 37.0 4.7% Steffan Lewis Steffan Lewis AM (27555190473).jpg 200 120 160 35 0 center Blank Plaid Cymru 1,755 6.5 4.1% Amy Kitcher LD Welsh Liberal Democrats 1,477 5.4 1.1% MP Subsequent MP Peter Law Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group Dai Davies Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group The writ for the UK Parliament by-election was moved on 6 June so that it would be held on the same date as the Assembly by-election, (29 June 2006).https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4761869.stm Blaenau Gwent election date set 2006-05-11 2006-05-11 BBC Labour whips had reportedly pressed for the election to be held on 25 May. The movement of the writ was more complicated because Law sat as an independent, and therefore the convention that the party of the former member moves the writ cannot apply.http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16993908&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=outrage-at-bid-for-early-by-election-name_page.html Outrage at bid for early by-election 2006-04-26 2006-04-26 Martin Shipton Western Mail According to the precedent (when Dennis Canavan resigned his Parliamentary seat at Westminster as an independent), the whip of the governing party moves the writ. Candidates Maggie Jones, the Labour candidate who had been defeated by Law at the 2005 general election, was not able to stand, because she had been elevated to the House of Lords.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4896562.stm Losing candidate will become peer BBC News 2006-04-11 2006-04-26 There had been speculation about an independent candidate running with the backing of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, but all three parties decided to contest the election.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4944102.stm Double poll looming in Law seat 2006-04-26 2006-04-26 BBC News It had been reported that prior to Law's death that the Labour Party had decided against selecting their candidate for the next general election with an all-women shortlist.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4900286.stm Peter Law, rebel who had a cause 2006-04-25 2006-04-27 BBC News It was the use of such a shortlist for the 2005 general election that led to Law standing as an independent. Labour instead left the selection to the local party.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4952376.stm MP 'offered peerage' not to stand 2006-04-27 2006-04-27 BBC News The Labour candidate, Owen Smith, was chosen on 8 May.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4983628.stm All-women list apology rejected 2006-05-08 2006-05-08 BBC Newshttp://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/newspolitics/tm_objectid=17050492&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=viagra-firm-lobbyist-to-stand-for-labour-in-blaenau-gwent-name_page.html Viagra-firm lobbyist to stand for Labour in Blaenau Gwent 2006-05-09 2006-05-09 icWales He was a former special adviser and BBC producer who worked for a pharmaceutical company.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/4753239.stm Parties pick by-election hopefuls BBC News 2006-05-09 2006-05-09 After losing this by-election, Smith went on to become MP for Pontypridd at the 2010 general election, and in 2016 launched an unsuccessful campaign to lead the Labour party, remaining in Parliament until the 2019 general election. The Liberal Democrat candidate was Amy Kitcher. The Conservatives stood Margrit Williams, who worked for Sir Malcolm Rifkind. Dai Davies, Peter Law's former agent, stood as an independent with the support of the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4985038.stm Widow gets People's Voice backing 2006-05-16 2006-05-16 BBC News Despite contesting both the previous Assembly and Parliamentary elections, the United Kingdom Independence Party decided not to stand a candidate, instead calling for a vote for the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group - even though the Group does not support withdrawal from the European Union, nor the abolition of the Welsh Assembly, key UKIP policies.http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2153 UKIP Annno uces [sic] that it will not stand in Blaenau Gwent by-election 2006-05-17 2006-06-09 United Kingdom Independence Party https://web.archive.org/web/20060916220558/http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2153 16 September 2006 dmy The Conservative fifth place was their worst position in a UK mainland by-election since at least 1945. Result Blaenau Gwent by-election, 2006http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by2005.html Results of Byelections in the 2005-2010 Parliament Boothroyd David 2015-10-05 United Kingdom Election Results 27 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151227081306/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by2005.html Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group Dai Davies 12,543 46.7 -11.5 Welsh Labour Owen Smith 10,055 37.0 +4.7 Plaid Cymru Steffan Lewis 1,755 6.5 +4.1 Welsh Liberal Democrats Amy Kitcher 1,477 5.4 +1.1 Welsh Conservatives Margrit Williams 1,013 3.7 +1.3 Official Monster Raving Loony Party Alan "Howling Laud" Hope 318 1.2 N/A 2,488 9.7 -16.2 27,161 50.5 -15.6 52,512 Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group −8.4 Previous result The 2005 general election result, in the election for the Parliamentary seat, was a gain for Peter Law as an independent candidate. General election 2005: Blaenau GwentElection 2005, Result: Blaenau Gwent https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/68.stm 31 January 2015 BBC 6 May 2005 Independent (politician) Peter Law 20,505 58.2 +58.2 Welsh Labour Maggie Jones 11,384 32.3 -39.7 Welsh Liberal Democrats Brian Thomas 1,511 4.3 -5.0 Plaid Cymru John Price 843 2.4 -8.8 Welsh Conservatives Phillip Lee 816 2.4 -5.2 United Kingdom Independence Party Peter Osborne 192 0.5 +0.5 9,121 25.9 N/A 35,251 66.1 +6.6 53,301 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) +48.9 Welsh Assembly by-election 2006 Blaenau Gwent by-election parliamentary Wales The Blaenau Gwent seat in the National Assembly for Wales.Triggered by death of incumbent no 2003 National Assembly for Wales election 2003 2007 National Assembly for Wales election 2007 29 June 2006 49.6% (12.2%) Trish Law Trish Law AM 2007.jpg 170 120 160 25 0 center Blank Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group 13,785 50.3 N/A John Hopkins Lab Welsh Labour 9,321 34.0 36.2% Steve Bard LD Welsh Liberal Democrats 2,054 7.5 3.4% AM Subsequent AM Peter Law Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group Trish Law Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group The Assembly by-election had to be held within twelve weeks of the vacancy arising. It was announced on 11 May 2006 that the Assembly by-election would be held on 29 June. Candidates Labour chose John Hopkins, who had already been selected as their 2007 Assembly election candidate, to contest the seat. John Price stood for Plaid Cymru. The Liberal Democrats fielded Steve Bard, a councillor in Abertillery. The Conservative candidate was Jonathan Burns, a Cardiff councillor. Peter Law's widow, Trish Law, stood as an independent backed by the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group. The Green Party fought the Assembly election but did not stand at Westminster.http://by_elections.blogspot.com/ By-Elections by_elections.blogspot.com Result Blaenau Gwent Welsh Assembly by-electionBy-Election 2006, Result: Blaenau Gwent http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=146&RPID=0 1 January 2020 Wales National Assembly 29 June 2006 Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group Trish Law 13,785 50.3 N/A Welsh Labour John Hopkins 9,321 34.0 -36.2 Welsh Liberal Democrats Steve Bard 2,054 7.5 -3.4 Plaid Cymru John Price 1,109 4.0 -5.6 Welsh Conservatives Jonathan Burns 816 3.0 -2.7 Green Party of England and Wales John Matthews 302 1.1 N/A 4,464 16.3 N/A 27,387 49.6 +12.2 52,900 Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group Welsh Labour +43.3 Previous result In 2003, Peter Law was re-elected as the Labour Assembly member for the Blaenau Gwent constituency. By announcing that he would stand as an independent for the parliamentary constituency he expelled himself from the Labour Party (and the Labour Assembly grouping). Welsh Assembly Election 2003: Blaenau GwentElection 2003, Result: Blaenau Gwent https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/welsh_assembly/html/68.stm 1 January 2020 BBC 6 May 2005 Welsh Labour Peter Law 13,884 70.2 +9.4 Welsh Liberal Democrats Steve Bard 2,148 10.9 -0.6 Plaid Cymru Rhys Ab Elis 1,889 9.6 -11.6 Welsh Conservatives Barrie O'Keefe 1,131 5.7 +0.2 United Kingdom Independence Party Roger Thomas 719 3.6 +3.6 11,736 59.4 +18.7 19,771 37.4 -10.7 Welsh Labour 52,927 Electorate and campaign timetables The electorate for the constituency was 52,900 as quoted by the Returning Officer's Department of Blaenau Gwent Borough Council on 14 May 2006 (-0.75% on the Westminster election and -0.05% on the Assembly election). The close of nominations for the Assembly constituency was on 2 June and for the Westminster seat 14 June. Campaigns On 27 April 2006, BBC News published allegations by Peter Law's widow that Law had believed he would be in line for a peerage should he decide not to stand in the 2005 general election. The Labour Party denied that a peerage was offered. Welsh Secretary Peter Hain attempted to build bridges with Law's supporters by apologising for imposing an all-women shortlist and suggesting that those expelled from the Labour Party might be able to rejoin. This apology was rejected by Dai Davies, Peter Law's agent and putative successor, as coming too late and being a cynical ploy to try to win the by-elections. Opinion polls An opinion poll was conducted by GfK NOP between 24 May and 28 May, which asked 1,000 voters in the constituency how they would vote. The results were: 50% Westminster {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; clear:both" |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! colspan=4|House of Commons seat poll |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! colspan=2 style="width: 130px"|Party ! style="width: 170px"|Candidate ! style="width: 40px"|% |- |- ! style="background-color: Welsh Labour" | | style="width: 130px" | Welsh Labour | | Owen Smith | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 47% |- |- ! style="background-color: Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group" | | style="width: 130px" | Blaenau Gwent People's Voice | | Dai Davies | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 35% |- |- ! style="background-color: Welsh Liberal Democrats" | | style="width: 130px" | Liberal Democrats (UK) | | Amy Kitcher | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 6% |- |- ! style="background-color: Plaid Cymru" | | style="width: 130px" | Plaid Cymru | | Steffan Lewis | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 6% |- |- ! style="background-color: Welsh Conservatives" | | style="width: 130px" | Welsh Conservatives | | Margrit Williams | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 5% |- |} 50% Assembly {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; clear:both" |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! colspan=4|Welsh Assembly seat poll |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! colspan=2 style="width: 130px"|Party ! style="width: 170px"|Candidate ! style="width: 40px"|% |- |- ! style="background-color: Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group" | | style="width: 130px" | Blaenau Gwent People's Voice | | Trish Law | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 43% |- |- ! style="background-color: Welsh Labour" | | style="width: 130px" | Welsh Labour | | John Hopkins | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 40% |- |- ! style="background-color: Plaid Cymru" | | style="width: 130px" | Plaid Cymru | | John Price | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 6% |- |- ! style="background-color: Welsh Liberal Democrats" | | style="width: 130px" | Welsh Liberal Democrats | | Steve Bard | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 6% |- |- ! style="background-color: Welsh Conservatives" | | style="width: 130px" | Welsh Conservatives | | Jonathan Burns | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 3% |- |- ! style="background-color: Green Party of England and Wales" | | style="width: 130px" | Green Party of England and Wales | | John Matthews | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | 2% |- |} See also List of United Kingdom by-elections (1979–2010) Blaenau Gwent References External links Peter Law Campaign literature from the 2005 general election Campaign literature from the 2006 Parliamentary by-election Campaign literature from the 2006 Welsh Assembly by-election Blaenau Gwent Liberal Democrats Category:By-elections to the Senedd Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Welsh constituencies Blaenau Gwent by-elections Blaenau Gwent by-elections Category:2000s elections in Wales Blaenau Gwent by-elections