BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003 | Cardiff South & Penarth

DESCRIPTION: Cardiff South & Penarth

No area of Wales has undergone a greater transformation in recent years than Cardiff South and Penarth. This is due to the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay, which has received hundreds of millions of pounds of public and private investment since the late 1980s � a decision taken by the then Conservative government but endorsed by most local politicians of all colours. The effect has been dramatic, replacing a wasteland of disused docklands with a vibrant mixture of housing, cinema, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops. The 500-acre freshwater lake created by a huge new barrage has been completed, despite a long fight by local protestors and environmentalists. Cheek-by-jowl with the bay is Butetown, one of Wales�s poorest areas and also home to one of the oldest ethnic minority populations in Britain.

The constituency also takes in the Victorian seaside town of Penarth, a mixture of middle-class and working-class areas which comes under the control of Cardiff's neighbouring council, the Vale of Glamorgan. The seat has long been safe Labour territory, partly thanks to such working-class areas as Splott and Tremorfa. It was represented by James (now Lord) Callaghan for more than 30 years from 1945, including his three years as prime minister in the late 1970s. His successor as MP was Alun Michael, who later became secretary of state for Wales and then first secretary in the assembly before resigning - and later giving up his assembly seat - ahead of a confidence motion.

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