:2019 Newport West by-election
{{Short description|2019 UK parliamentary by-election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox election
|election_name = 2019 Newport West by-election
|type = parliamentary
|country =
|seats_for_election = Newport West constituency
|ongoing = no
|previous_election = 2017 United Kingdom general election
|previous_year = 2017
|next_election = 2019 United Kingdom general election
|next_year = 2019
|election_date = 4 April 2019
|turnout = 37.1%
|candidate1 = Ruth Jones
|image1 = x160px
|party1 = Welsh Labour
|last_election1 =
|popular_vote1 = 9,308
|percentage1 = 39.6
|swing1 = {{decrease}} 12.7%
|candidate2 = Matthew Evans
|image2 =
|party2 = Welsh Conservatives
|last_election2 =
|popular_vote2 = 7,357
|percentage2 = 31.3
|swing2 = {{decrease}} 8%
|candidate4 = Neil Hamilton
|image4 = 160x160px
|party4 = UK Independence Party
|last_election4 =
|popular_vote4 = 2,023
|percentage4 = 8.6
|swing4 = {{increase}} 6.1%
|candidate5 = Jonathan Clark
|image5 =
|party5 = Plaid Cymru
|last_election5 =
|popular_vote5 = 1,185
|percentage5 = 5.0
|swing5 = {{increase}} 2.5%
|map_image =
|map_size =
|map_caption =
|title = MP
|posttitle =
|before_election = Paul Flynn
|before_party = Labour
|after_election = Ruth Jones
|after_party = Labour
}}
A by-election was held in the UK Parliament constituency of Newport West in south Wales on 4 April 2019, following the death of Labour Party MP (Member of Parliament) Paul Flynn. Labour nominated the trade unionist Ruth Jones, who held the seat for the party with 40% of the vote and a reduced majority. The Conservative candidate Matthew Evans came second with 31% of the vote, followed by Neil Hamilton, the UKIP candidate, on 8%. This was the third parliamentary by-election held during the 57th UK Parliament, which was elected at the 2017 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47786885 |title=Newport West by-election: Labour holds on to seat |author= |date=5 April 2019 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=8 January 2021}}
Background
In October 2018, the sitting MP Paul Flynn indicated his intention to resign his seat in the imminent future following a worsening of his rheumatoid arthritis.{{Cite news |last=Craig |first= Ian |url= https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17009152.tributes-paid-to-paul-flynn-following-news-he-is-to-quit/|title=Tributes paid to Paul Flynn following news he is to quit|work=South Wales Argus|date=26 October 2018|accessdate=18 February 2019}} At the time, Flynn indicated that he would wait for a snap general election in case that allowed him to stand down without triggering a by-election, citing the expense involved in organising and holding one. He died on 17 February 2019 following a "long illness".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-47274312|title=Tributes to veteran Labour MP Flynn|work=BBC News|date=18 February 2019|accessdate=18 February 2019}}
Newport West has been held by Labour since 1987, when Flynn won the seat from the Conservatives. The constituency is semi-marginal, with Labour majorities not exceeding 10,000 votes except during the electoral landslide of 1997.{{cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/newportwest/|title=Newport West: 2015 Result|website=ukpollingreport.co.uk|publisher=UK Polling Report|accessdate=18 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015814/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/newportwest/|url-status=dead}}
The writ of election was moved in Parliament on 28 February, scheduling the by-election for 4 April 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47400521|title=Newport West by-election date announced|work=BBC News |date=28 February 2019|accessdate=28 February 2019}}{{cite news|first=Ian|last=Craig|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17465965.newport-west-by-election-to-be-held-on-april-4-following-death-of-paul-flynn/|title=Newport West by-election to be held on April 4 following death of Paul Flynn|work=South Wales Argus|date=28 February 2019|accessdate=28 February 2019}}
Candidates and timetable
Flynn had indicated his intention to stand down at or before the next general election and political parties had begun to select candidates in Newport West for the next general election,{{cite web|url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2018/11/23/green-deputy-leader-selected-as-newport-west-candidate/|title=Green deputy leader selected as Newport West candidate |website=greenparty.org.uk|publisher=Green Party|date=23 November 2018|accessdate=18 February 2019}} including Jonathan Clark (Plaid Cymru),{{cite news |last=Craig |first= Ian|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17422436.plaid-select-their-newport-west-parliamentary-candidate/|title=Plaid select their Newport West Parliamentary candidate|work=South Wales Argus|date=10 February 2019|accessdate=18 February 2019}} Matthew Evans (Welsh Conservatives), Ruth Jones (Welsh Labour) and Amelia Womack (Green Party). UKIP selected its Welsh leader Neil Hamilton.{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17474898.neil-hamilton-is-ukips-candidate-for-the-newport-west-by-election/|title=Neil Hamilton is Ukip's candidate for the Newport West by-election|website=South Wales Argus|accessdate=4 March 2019}} The Liberal Democrats selected Ryan Jones.{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17484264.liberal-democrats-announce-newport-west-by-election-candidate/|title=Liberal Democrats announce Newport West by-election candidate|website=South Wales Argus|accessdate=8 March 2019}} Also standing were Richard Suchorzewski for the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party;{{Cite news |last=Craig |first= Ian|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17453959.party-dedicated-to-abolishing-the-welsh-assembly-will-run-in-newport-west-by-election/|title=Party dedicated to abolishing the Welsh Assembly will run in Newport West by-election|work=South Wales Argus|date=22 February 2019|accessdate=24 February 2019}} June Davies for the Renew Party;{{Cite news |last=Staff writer|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17467627.renew-party-announces-candidate-for-newport-west-by-election/|title=Renew Party announces candidate for Newport West by-election|work=South Wales Argus|date=28 February 2019|accessdate=28 February 2019}} Ian McLean for the continuing SDP;{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17486873.social-democratic-party-announces-by-election-candidate/|title=Social Democratic Party announces by-election candidate|website=South Wales Argus|accessdate=8 March 2019}} and candidates for For Britain and the Democrats and Veterans.[http://www.newport.gov.uk/documents/Council-and-Democracy/Elections-and-voting/Newport-West-By-election-April-2019/Notice-of-poll.pdf STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL/DATGANIAD YNGHYLCH Y PERSONAU A ENWEBWYD A HYSBYSIAD O’R BLEIDLAIS], Newport City Council
The new Brexit Party said it would not be standing. The recently formed Independent Group also declined to field its own candidate.
The election was administered by Newport City Council, with the statement of persons nominated published on 8 March 2019.[http://www.newport.gov.uk/en/Council-Democracy/Elections-and-voting/Newport-West-By-election-2019.aspx Newport West Parliamentary By-election] Newport City Council
Campaign
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced on 12 March that the expected decision on the construction of an M4 relief road around Newport would be delayed due to the purdah rules that had taken effect during the by-election. Such rules prevented the government from making major policy announcements to avoid unduly influencing an election campaign. The news was strongly criticised by the Conservative candidate.{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17495191.no-m4-relief-road-decision-until-after-newport-west-by-election-confirms-first-minister-mark-drakeford/|title=No M4 relief road decision until after by-election, confirms First Minister|last=Craig|first=Ian|date=12 March 2019|website=South Wales Argus|accessdate=13 March 2019}}
The national backdrop for the by-election was the continued uncertainty over Brexit during the Brexit negotiations in 2019, with the original planned date for leaving the European Union being postponed and the failure of the House of Commons to agree a way forward. The Conservatives were concerned this would adversely affect their vote."Snap election under May would 'annihilate' Tories", By E Malnick & J Maidment. The Sunday Telegraph, p. 1, 31 March 2019
Result
File:2019 Newport West by-election.svg
{{Election box begin | title=2019 Newport West by-election{{cite web|url=http://www.newport.gov.uk/en/Council-Democracy/Elections-and-voting/Election-results/Newport-West-By-election-results.aspx|title=Newport West By-election results {{!}} Newport City Council|website=www.newport.gov.uk|accessdate=5 April 2019}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Welsh Labour
|candidate = Ruth Jones
|votes = 9,308
|percentage = 39.6
|change = −12.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Welsh Conservatives
|candidate = Matthew Evans
|votes = 7,357
|percentage = 31.3
|change = −8.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = UK Independence Party
|candidate = Neil Hamilton
|votes = 2,023
|percentage = 8.6
|change = +6.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Plaid Cymru
|candidate = Jonathan Clark{{Cite web |title=Plaid4Newport |url=https://plaidnewport.blogspot.com/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=plaidnewport.blogspot.com |language=en}}
|votes = 1,185
|percentage = 5.0
|change = +2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Welsh Liberal Democrats
|candidate = Ryan Jones
|votes = 1,088
|percentage = 4.6
|change = +2.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate = Amelia Womack
|votes = 924
|percentage = 3.9
|change = +2.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Renew Party
|candidate = June Davies
|votes = 879
|percentage = 3.7
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party
|candidate = Richard Suchorzewski
|votes = 205
|percentage = 0.9
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)
|candidate = Ian McLean
|votes = 202
|percentage = 0.9
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democrats and Veterans
|candidate = Philip Taylor
|votes = 185
|percentage = 0.8
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = For Britain
|candidate = Hugh Nicklin
|votes = 159
|percentage = 0.7
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,951
|percentage = 8.3
|change = −4.7
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 23,515
|percentage = 37.1
|change = −30.4
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 63,623
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Welsh Labour
|swing = −2.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
Previous result
Paul Flynn was re-elected to an eighth term of office in the 2017 general election, with an increased majority of 5,658 (13.0%) over the Conservative candidate.
{{Election box begin| title=General election 2017: Newport West{{cite web |title=2017 Results|url=http://www.newport.gov.uk/en/Council-Democracy/Elections-and-voting/Election-results/General-Election-June-2017-results.aspx|publisher=Newport Council |accessdate=5 April 2020}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Welsh Labour
|candidate = Paul Flynn
|votes = 22,723
|percentage = 52.3
|change = +11.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Welsh Conservatives
|candidate = Angela Jones-Evans
|votes = 17,065
|percentage = 39.3
|change = +6.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = UK Independence Party
|candidate = Stan Edwards
|votes = 1,100
|percentage = 2.5
|change = −12.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Plaid Cymru
|candidate = Morgan Bowler-Brown
|votes = 1,077
|percentage = 2.5
|change = −1.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Welsh Liberal Democrats
|candidate = Sarah Lockyer
|votes = 976
|percentage = 2.2
|change = −1.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Wales Green Party
|candidate = Pippa Bartolotti
|votes = 497
|percentage = 1.1
|change = −2.0
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 5,658
|percentage = 13.0
|change = +4.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 43,438
|percentage = 67.5
|change = +2.6
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 64,399
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Welsh Labour
|swing = +2.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{by-elections to the 57th UK Parliament|state=collapsed}}
{{Westminster by-elections in Wales 1950–present}}
Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Welsh constituencies