Aberafan Maesteg Explained

Aberafan Maesteg is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament, first contested at the 2024 general election following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies. It is currently represented by Stephen Kinnock of the Labour Party, who represented the predecessor constituency of Aberavon from 2015 to 2024.

Constituency profile

The seat covers the industrial towns of Port Talbot and Maesteg and a more rural area around the Afan Valley further north. Rhondda Valley including Porth and Tonypandy. Electoral Calculus characterises the seat as "Traditional", reflecting a working-class population who have largely supported Labour. Incomes and house prices are well below UK averages.^[2]

Boundaries

Under the 2023 review, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following, as they existed on 1 December 2020:^{[3] [4]}

• The County Borough of Bridgend wards of: Caerau, Cornelly, Llangynwyd, Maesteg East, Maesteg West, and Pyle.
• The County Borough of Neath Port Talbot wards of: Aberavon, Baglan, Briton Ferry East, Briton Ferry West, Bryn and Cwmavon, Cymmer, Glyncorrwg, Gwynfi, Margam, Pelenna, Port Talbot, Sandfields East, Sandfields West, and Tai-bach.

Following local government boundary reviews which came into effect in May 2022,^{[5] [6]} the constituency now comprises the following from the 2024 general election:^[7]

• The County Borough of Bridgend wards of: Caerau, Cornelly, Llangynwyd, Maesteg East, Maesteg West, and Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr (part).
• The County Borough of Neath Port Talbot wards of: Aberavon, Baglan, Briton Ferry East, Briton Ferry West, Bryn and Cwmavon, Cimla and Pelenna (part), Cymmer and Glyncorrwg, Gwynfi and Croeserw, Margam and Tai-bach, Port Talbot, Sandfields East, and Sandfields West.

By population, it is made up as follows:^{[8] [9]}

• 61.1% from Aberavon, accounting for 81.1% of the former constituency (parts in Neath Port Talbot CB, except Pelenna).
• 21.6% from Ogmore, accounting for 25.8% of the former constituency (Maesteg).
• 16.0% from Bridgend, accounting for 17.0% of that constituency under its 2010–2024 boundaries (Cornelly and Pyle).
• 1.3% from Neath, accounting for 1.7% of the former constituency (Pelenna).

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

External links

• Aberafan Maesteg UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

Notes and References

1. Book: Mrs Justice Jefford . Nerys Jefford . Thomas . Huw Vaughan . Hartley . Sam A . June 2023 . Appendix 1: Recommended Constituencies . https://bcomm-wales.gov.uk/sites/bcomm/files/review/E02859434_Boundary%20Commission%20Wales%202023_English_Web%20Accessible_V03.pdf#page=250 . The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales . Cardiff . Boundary Commission for Wales . 250 . 978-1-5286-3901-9 . 13 July 2024 .
2. Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Rhondda+and+Ogmore
3. Web site: 2023 Parliamentary Review - Revised Proposals Boundary Commission for Wales . 2023-06-20 . Boundary Commission for Wales.
4. Web site: The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023 . Schedule 4 (Wales).
5. Web site: The County Borough of Bridgend (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 .
6. Web site: The County Borough of Neath Port Talbot (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 .
7. Web site: Election Maps . 2025-03-09 . www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk.
8. Web site: Aberafan Maesteg (31 May 2024 -) . 2024-06-10 . electionresults.parliament.uk.
9. Web site: New Seat Details - Aberafan Maesteg . 2023-07-30 . www.electoralcalculus.co.uk.
10. Web site: Aberafan Maesteg notional election - December 2019 . 11 July 2024 . Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News . UK Parliament.