1982 Gower by-election

The 1982 Gower by-election of 16 September 1982 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Ifor Davies on 6 June 1982. The seat was held by Labour in the by-election.[1]

1982 Gower by-election

← 1979 16 Sep 1982 1983 →

Constituency of Gower
Turnout65.4% (Decrease15.4%)
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Gareth Wardell Gwynoro Jones
Party Labour SDP
Popular vote 17,095 9,875
Percentage 43.5% 25.1
Swing Decrease9.7 Increase16.1%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Trefor Llewellyn Ieuan Owen
Party Conservative Plaid Cymru
Popular vote 8,690 3,431
Percentage 22.1 8.7
Swing Decrease8.5% Increase1.5%

MP before election

Ifor Davies
Labour

Subsequent MP

Gareth Wardell
Labour

Amongst the candidates was David Burns who at the time was being held on remand over charges relating to the bombing of a British Army recruitment office in Pontypridd. A self-declared member of the 'Worker's Army for a Welsh Republic', Burns was ultimately released in 1983 after neither of the two charges were made to stand up.[2]

Results edit

1982 Gower by-election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gareth Wardell 17,095 43.5 -9.7
SDP Gwynoro Jones 9,875 25.1 +16.1
Conservative Trefor Llewellyn 8,690 22.1 -8.5
Plaid Cymru Ieuan Owen 3,431 8.7 +1.5
Computer Democrat John Donovan 125 0.3 N/A
Civil Rights/Welsh Political Prisoner David Burns 103 0.3 N/A
Majority 7,220 18.4 -4.2
Turnout 39,319 65.4 -15.4
Registered electors 60,123
Labour hold Swing

References edit

  1. ^ "Gower by-election result". Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  2. ^ a b Results of By-Elections in the 1979-83 Parliament