An election for the National Assembly for Wales was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, as well as the Scottish Parliament election took place. This election was preceded by the previous Assembly election in 2003.
The election saw Plaid Cymru make gains at the expense of Labour, although Labour remain the largest party in the Assembly, as they have since it began. Plaid stated they would make a referendum on devolving further powers to the National Assembly a condition for a coalition.Plaid to seek devolution referendum after election, Wales, 3 January 2007, accessed on 8 February 2007. Wales reported that senior civil servants before the election were preparing for three possible coalition administrations: Labour/Liberal Democrat, Labour/Plaid Cymru or Plaid Cymru/Liberal Democrat/Conservative.
Discussions between Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to form a "Rainbow" Coalition broke down, and a coalition was eventually agreed upon between Labour and Plaid Cymru.
Major parties The Welsh Labour Party before the election had 29 seats, Plaid Cymru had 12, the Welsh Conservatives 11, the Welsh Liberal Democrats 6, Forward Wales 1, with 1 independent, Trish Law. Law had won her seat at a 2006 by-election. The one Forward Wales Assembly Member was elected as an independent before forming the party. The standings were otherwise identical to the 2003 results.
Electoral method In general elections for the National Assembly for Wales, each voter has two votes in a mixed member system. The first vote may be used to vote for a candidate to become the Assembly Member for the voter's constituency, elected by the first past the post system. The second vote may be used to vote for a regional closed party list of candidates. Additional member seats are allocated from the lists by the d'Hondt method, with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation. The overall result is approximately proportional.
Pre-election forecasts
Predictions for the seat distribution were made by a number of polls before the election:
Forecast byDatesLabPlaidConLDotherInstitute of Welsh AffairsLabour set to lose out in May's WAG vote, icWales, 2007-01-13, accessed on 2007-01-17.2007-01-1325131372NOP/ITV2007-04-0625121472Western Mail2007-04-2725151082
Electoral results
Overall turnout – 43.7%
| style="background-color:white" colspan=15 | |- !rowspan=3 colspan=2 | Parties !colspan=10 | Additional-member system !rowspan=2 colspan=5 | Total seats |- !colspan=5 |Constituency !colspan=5 |Region |- ! Votes !! % !! +/− !! Seats !! +/− ! Votes !! % !! +/− !! Seats !! +/− ! Total !! +/− !! %
| || Total || 978,132 || || || 40 || || 974,884 || || || 20 || || 60 || ||
(source:)
Votes summary
Constituency nominations NB: candidates in BOLD text were incumbent assembly members before the election
Constituency Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Others Aberavon Daisy Meyland-Smith Brian Gibbons Claire Waller Linett Purcell Aberconwy Dylan Jones-Evans Denise Idris Jones Euron Hughes Gareth Jones Alyn and Deeside Will Gallagher Carl Sargeant Paul Brighton Dafydd Passe William Crawford (UKIP) Arfon Gerry Frobisher Martin Eaglestone Mel Ab Owain Alun Ffred Jones Elwyn Williams (UKIP) Blaenau Gwent Bob Hayward Keren Bender Gareth Lewis Natasha Asghar Trish Law (Independent) Brecon and Radnorshire Suzy Davies Neil Stone Kirsty Williams Arwel Lloyd Bridgend Emma Greenow Carwyn Jones Paul Warren Nick Thomas Caerphilly Richard Foley Jeff Cuthbert Huw Price Lindsay Whittle Ron Davies (Independent) Davies to contest assembly seat, BBC News, 5 February 2007, accessed 8 February 2007. Cardiff Central Andrew Murphy Sue Lent Jenny Randerson Thomas Whitfield Frank Hughes (UKIP) Cardiff North Jonathan Morgan Sophie Howe Ed Bridges Wyn Jones Dai Llewellyn (UKIP) Cardiff South and Penarth Karen Robson Lorraine Barrett Dominic Hannigan Jason Toby Cardiff West Alun Craig Williams Rhodri Morgan Alison Goldworthy Neil McEvoy Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Henrietta Hensher Kevin Madge Ian Walton Rhodri Glyn Thomas Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Angela Burns Christine Gwyther John Gossage John Dixon Ceredigion Trefor Jones Linda Grace John Davies Elin Jones Dafydd Morgan (Independent) Clwyd South John Bell Karen Sinclair Frank Biggs Nia Davies David Rowlands (UKIP) Clwyd West Darren Millar Alun Pugh Simon Croft Phil Edwards Warwick Nicholson (UKIP) Cynon Valley Neil John Christine Chapman Margaret Phelps Liz Walters Delyn Antoinette Sandbach Sandy Mewies Ian Matthews Meg Elis Derek Bigg (UKIP) Dwyfor Meirionnydd Mike Wood David Phillips Steve Churchman Dafydd Elis-Thomas Gower Byron Davies Edwina Hart Nick Tregoning Darren Price Alex Lewis (UKIP) Islwyn Paul Williams Irene James Mark J Maguire Alan Pritchard Kevin Etheridge (Independent) Llanelli Andrew Morgan Catherine Thomas Jeremy Townsend Helen Mary Jones Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Giles Howard Huw Lewis Amy Kitcher Glyndwr Cennydd Jones Clive Tovay (Independent), Jeff Edwards Monmouth Nick Ramsay Richard Clark Jacqui Sullivan Jonathan T Clark Ed Abrams (English Democrats) Montgomeryshire Dan Munford Rachel Maycock Mick Bates David Thomas Bruce Lawson (UKIP) Neath Andrew Silvertsen Gwenda Thomas Sheila Waye Alun Llewelyn Newport East Peter Fox John Griffiths Ed Townsend Trefor Puw Andrew Constantine (English Democrats) Newport West Matthew Evans Rosemary Butler Nigel Flanagan Brian Hancock Mike Blundell (English Democrats) & James Harris (Independent) Ogmore Norma Lloyd Nesling Janice Gregory Martin Plant Sian Caiach Pontypridd Janice Charles Jane Davidson Mike Powell Richard Rhys Grigg Preseli Pembrokeshire Paul Davies Tamsin Dunwoody Hywel Davies John Osmond Rhondda Howard Parsons Leighton Andrews Karen Roberts Jill Evans Swansea East Bob Dowdle Valerie Lloyd Helen Ceri Clarke Danny Bowles Swansea West Harri Lloyd Davies Andrew Davies Peter May Ian Titherington Richard Lewis (UKIP) Torfaen Graham Smith Lynne Neagle Patrick Legge Rhys ab Elis Ian Williams (People's Voice) Vale of Clwyd Matt Wright Ann Jones Mark Young Mark Jones Vale of Glamorgan Gordon Kemp Jane Hutt Mark Hooper Barry Shaw Kevin Mahoney (UKIP) Wrexham Felicity Elphick Lesley Griffiths Bruce Roberts Siôn Aled Owen John Marek (Independent), Peter Lewis (UKIP) Ynys Môn James Roach Jonathan Austin Mandi Abrahams Ieuan Wyn Jones Francis Wykes (UKIP), Peter Rogers (Independent)
Trish Law had defended the seat she won in the 2006 by-election. Then and now, she was standing as an independent, but was affiliated with the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Group. Ron Davies and John Marek stood as independents, but were members of and continued to play an active role in Forward Wales. Marek was the party's leader, while Davies was their policy director. Neither was elected on 3 May.
Regional lists
Mid and West Wales
! colspan=2 style="width: 200px"|Constituency ! style="width: 150px"|Elected member ! style="width: 300px"|Result
British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Independent Independent Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Socialist Labour Party UKIP Veritas Welsh Christian Party1. Ian Si'ree Joseph Antony Biddulph Rick Newnham Nick Bourne Leila Kiersch Caroline Evans Gwynoro Jones Alun Davies Cllr. Bill Powell Nerys Evans Alun Davies Clive Easton Iain Sheldon Adam Bridgman2. Chris Edwards-Harrill Elaine Blake Glyn Davies Timothy John Foster Joyce Watson Julianna Hughes David Senior Luke Hume Nick Powell M. Williams3. Lloyd Thomas Morgan Graham Morgan Lisa Francis Marilyn Elson Alun Wyn Richards Cllr. Ken Harris Delyth Richards Patricia Ann Bowen Dennis Taylor J. Morgan4. Marie Murray Clive Eliassen O. J. Williams John Jennings Rhiannon Stone Selwyn Runnett Mrs. Liz Saville-Roberts Maggie Davies Virginia Whinnyates M. Davies5. Richard Minshull Chris Simpson Dr. Parvaiz Ali Cllr. David Peter Martin Wiltshire6. M.J.H. Jefferies Emma Hayes7. Alexander Viol
RESULT: Labour – 2 seats; Plaid Cymru – 1 seat; Conservative – 1 North Wales British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party1. Ennys Hughes Brian Churchill Glyn Davies Brynle Williams Jim Killock Ken Skates Eleanor Burnham Janet Ryder Bob English John Bufton Lindsay Griffiths2. Dallus Weaver Rhian Cartwright Mark Isherwood Joe Blakesley Donna Hutton Cllr. Tudor Jones Dafydd Wigley Dave Roberts Nathan Gill Rev. Heather Butler3. Simon Darby Trevor Jones Cllr. Janet Finch-Saunders Maredudd ap Rheinallt Cllr. Ronnie Hughes Bobby Feeley Dyfed Edwards Judith Sambrook Elaine Gill Mark MacLeod4. Mike Howard Mike Green Paul Rogers Cllr. Wilf Hastings Wenna Williams Cllr. Douglas Madge Cllr. Abdul Khan Paul Liversuch Ken Khambatta Justin Davies5. James Davies Cllr. Chris Hughes Cllr. Michael Edwards6. John Broughton Anne Williams
RESULT: Conservative – 2 seats; Plaid Cymru – 1 seat; LibDem – 1 seat
South Wales Central British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party Green Party of England and Wales Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru RESPECT The Unity Coalition Socialist Alternative Socialist Equality Party Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party1. John Walker Anthony Jeremy Robert Griffiths David Melding John Matthews Iftakhar Khan Cllr. John Dixon Leanne Wood Karen Tyre Dave Reid Chris Talbot Liz Screen John Pratt W. Johannsen2. Laurence Reid Gwen Griffiths Andrew R. T. Davies Richard Payne Cerys Furlong Cllr. Gavin Cox Chris Franks Rowena Mason David O'Sullivan Harry Parfitt David Bevan D. Thomson3. Tim Windsor Fran Rawlings Victoria Green Nigel Baker Anthony Hunt Alexandra Macmillan Gwenllian Lansdown Andrew Price Stuart Nolan Ina Marsden Dr K. T. Rajan D. Williams4. Mark Deacon Clive Griffiths Richard John Richard Clarke Jayne Brencher Cllr. Asghar Ali Mohammed Sarul Islam Jane Jackson Poopalasingham Thillaivarothayan Rob Hawkins William Potter J. Storey5. Mike Jones-Pritchard Anthony Matthews Matt Greenough Cllr. Margaret Jones Alex Gounelas6. Jon Burns Elizabeth Ale Andrew Sherwood Joe Fathallah
RESULT: Conservative – 2 seats; Plaid Cymru – 2 seats
South Wales East British National Party Christian Peoples Alliance Communist Party of Britain Conservative Party English Democrats Green Party of England and Wales Independent Labour Party Liberal Democrats Plaid Cymru Socialist Labour Party UKIP Welsh Christian Party1. Robert James Trueman Madeleine Jeremy Roy Evans William Graham Steve Gash Ann Were Colin Hobbs Cllr. Mark Whitcutt Michael German Jocelyn Davies John Cox David J Rowlands Jeff Green2. Peter Greenhalgh Sara Jeremy Angharad Halpin Laura Anne Jones Alan England Alasdair McGowen Tunji Fahm Cllr. Veronica Watkins Mohammad Asghar Sue Deare Keith Morgan Geoff Waggett3. Marlene Jordan Dan Cole David Chipp Fred Bishop Gerry Layton Julie Helen Robinson Cllr. Phylip Hobson Colin Mann Glenn Eynon Roger Thomas Peter Watkins4. Christopher Robinson Dave Rawlings Andrew Roberts David Lane Owen Clarke John Wright Turner Alison Willott Glyn Erasmus Cerian Screen Hugh Moelwyn Hughes Richard Patching5. Steven Uncles Rhianon Passmore Cllr. David Hando Joyce Giblin6. Michael Russell Jean Gray
RESULT: Plaid Cymru – 2 seats; Conservative – 1 seat; LibDem – 1 seat Mohammad Asghar was the first ethnic minority member of the Assembly for Plaid Cymru but on 8 December 2009, he switched to the Conservatives. Veronica German succeeded Mike German as the Liberal Democrat AM following his appointment to the House of Lords.
South Wales West