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1979 United Kingdom general election in Wales

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All 38 Welsh seats to the House of Commons
First party Second party   Leader James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher Party Labour Conservative Leader since 5 April 1976 11 February 1975 Last election 23 seats, 49.5% 8 seats, 23.9% Seats won 22 11 Seat change 1 3 Popular vote 795,500 526,300 Percentage 48.6% 32.2% Swing 0.9% 8.3%   Third party Fourth party   Leader David Steel Gwynfor Evans Party Liberal Plaid Cymru Leader since 7 July 1976 1 August 1945 Last election 2 seats, 15.5% 3 seats, 10.8% Seats won 1 2 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 173,500 132,500 Percentage 10.6% 8.1% Swing 4.9% 2.7%

The 1979 United Kingdom general election in Wales saw the Labour Party win the most votes and seats in Wales.

Background

The Labour party won the most votes in Wales, although the Conservatives won most votes UK-wide.

John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon was under the impression that Prime Minister James Callaghan would call a general election in the autumn of 1978, but called it off. A Welsh devolution referendum was held in March 1979, two months prior. A Welsh Assembly was rejected, with regional distrust as a potential factor.

MPs elected

References

1. ^ "UK Election Statistics: 1918-2022, A Long Century of Elections" (PDF). House of Commons Library. p. 22.
2. WalesOnline (2011-10-02). "Lord Morris of Aberavon lifts the lid on the disastrous 1979 devolution referendum". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2022-12-09.

• 1979 in Wales
• 1970s elections in Wales
• General elections in Wales to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
• 1979 United Kingdom general election