Wales and the 2010 General Election

Abstract

Wales is distinctive in British general elections for its higher than average levels of support for the Labour Party. However, following evidence of Labour decline and public opposition after its unprecedented 13 years of office, there were questions over whether perceived Labour one-partyism in Wales would be finally superseded. In practice, although the election resulted in an increased fragmentation of vote share, the Labour Party lost only three seats net and its dominance in the Welsh party system was basically preserved. The implications of the election for politics in the National Assembly for Wales, where a more proportional electoral system and multi-level voting have contributed to lower vote shares for Labour and higher ones for Plaid Cymru, also appeared to favour the Labour Party. Party campaigns in the British-wide parties to a large extent followed leads set by the British-level leadership, although there were specific Welsh dimensions. Plaid Cymru shared a platform with the SNP in seeking to stand up for Wales and Scotland against expected expenditure cuts. Overall, while the Conservative Party enjoyed some renewed success, the election in Wales was primarily notable for the Labour Party holding on to its dominant position in Westminster elections despite very adverse circumstances and an historic drop in vote share.