Despite Labour suffering its worst election result since the 1930s, Caerphilly County Borough’s three MPs were all re-elected.
Wayne David for Caerphilly, Chris Evans for Islwyn, and Gerald Jones for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, were all returned last night with comfortable majorities.
Across the UK Labour lost 59 seats while the Conservatives gained 47 seats – gaining a Commons majority of 76.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who visited Hengoed’s International Greetings factory on the campaign trail, has vowed to use his new majority to leave the European Union.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not lead the party at another general election.
Speaking prior to his own result being announced, Caerphilly’s Labour MP Wayne David told Caerphilly Observer that the leader had been the number one topic on the doorstep.
He said: “It’s a really bad night for Labour and unfortunately a good night for the Conservatives and Boris Johnson.
“It is important that the Labour Party honestly reflects and discusses what happened in this general election campaign.
“Of course the Conservatives weaponised Brexit and played upon and exacerbated the divisions that exist over Brexit.
“But to be frank, the issue that’s on the doorstep more than anything else was that people didn’t like nor trust Jeremy Corbyn.
“It doesn’t give me any great pleasure to say that, but it is objectively true.
“I don’t think it’s an issue of personality, because I think Jeremy is an honest and decent man. I think people found it difficult to accept the political tradition that he is drawn from.”
Caerphilly full results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share % | Share Change % |
| Hefin David | Labour | 13,289 | ||
| Delyth Jewell | Plaid Cymru | 8,211 | ||
| Steven Mayfield | Conservative | 5,013 | ||
| Stephen Jones | Abolish | 1,119 | ||
| Steven Aicheler | Liberal Democrats | 787 | ||
| Tim Price | ReformUK | 495 |
Turnout = 63.76%. 40,277 votes cast
Labour’s Chris Evans held the Islwyn seat.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales he said: “We need to rebuild the organisation… we have a mountain to climb… clearly something has gone wrong.”
Islwyn full results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share % | Share Change % |
| Hefin David | Labour | 13,289 | ||
| Delyth Jewell | Plaid Cymru | 8,211 | ||
| Steven Mayfield | Conservative | 5,013 | ||
| Stephen Jones | Abolish | 1,119 | ||
| Steven Aicheler | Liberal Democrats | 787 | ||
| Tim Price | ReformUK | 495 |
Turnout = 62%
Former deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council Gerald Jones was re-elected MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney full results
Gerald Jones – Labour – 16,913
Sara Jones – Conservative – 6,307
Colin Jones – Brexit Party – 3,604
Plaid Cymru – Mark Evans – 2,446
David Hughes – Independent – 1,860
Brendan D’Cruz – Liberal Democrat – 1,116
Turnout = 57.3%.