BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003

DESCRIPTION: Ynys Mon

This seat should prove to be one of the key testing grounds for both Labour and Plaid Cymru. Few areas in Britain have had MPs from four different parties in succession, but the seat known as Mam Cymru (Mother of Wales) is one. From 1929 to 1951 it was held by David Lloyd George’s daughter Megan, who was at the time a Liberal - although she was later a Labour MP for Carmarthen. She was followed by Labour’s Cledwyn Hughes, until an unexpected Conservative victory in 1979. The Tories hung on in 1983, but they were damaged by a share-buying scandal surrounding their MP Keith Best. Plaid Cymru emerged as the main challenger and in 1987 the party’s current president, Ieuan Wyn Jones snatched the constituency. He held off the Conservatives and Labour as the main challengers at successive elections in the 1990s and won the assembly seat in 1999, but stood down at the 2001 general election to concentrate on Cardiff Bay. Labour’s Albert Owen became the MP with a majority of just 800.

Anglesey is a predominantly rural island, although it has some heavier industry around Holyhead, where the ferry terminal is an important employer. Agriculture and tourism are major industries, and there is also a substantial retirement population. The island is predominantly Welsh-speaking, with 62% of the population registering as Welsh speakers. The local council is under no overall control, and is largely made up of Independent members.

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