BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003 | Carmarthen East & Dinefwr

DESCRIPTION: Carmarthen East & Dinefwr

Carmarthenshire traditionally takes the credit for winning the referendum that created the assembly. The county was the final area to declare, saying Yes by a margin of 2-1, which just swung the result. But often forgotten is that neighbouring Neath Port Talbot was even more enthusiastic, registering a slightly higher percentage of pro-assembly votes. But Carmarthenshire has played a significant role in radical Welsh politics for generations, from the anti-toll gate Rebecca rioters of the 1830s to Gwynfor Evans becoming Plaid Cymru�s first MP in 1966. This has been a relatively volatile parliamentary seat. Labour won back Carmarthen in 1970, clung on by just three votes in February 1974, only for Gwynfor Evans to regain it in that year's second general election in October. Labour were again triumphant in 1979, holding the parliamentary seat until 2001, by which time it had become Carmarthen East and Dinefwr. But Plaid were in the ascendant: Rhodri Glyn Thomas became the AM in 1999, and Adam Price its MP two years later.

This seat has the largest number of Welsh-speakers of any constituency, with over half the population able to speak the language. It is largely rural, but also contains old mining areas in the Amman Valley. Probably the jewel in its crown is Middleton, the recently renamed National Botanic Garden of Wales near Llanarthne.

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