Yahoo News General election 2024: Find out more about the candidates standing in Aberafan Maesteg
There are eight candidates standing for election in Aberafan Maesteg. We sent them all questionnaires asking about their lives and their political aspirations to give you an understanding of the politicians vying for your vote on Thursday, July 4, at the general election.
Aberafan Maesteg is one of the most changed constituencies in the redrawn political map of Wales. Instead of the previous 40 constituencies in Wales, there are now 32. The newly-constituted Aberavon Maesteg seat is mainly made up of what was formerly the Aberavon seat, a safe Labour seat having been held by the party since 1918. Stephen Kinnock has been the MP since 2015.
Using figures from electoral calculus, we can see how this constituency is changing. It is 83.8% of the former Aberavon constituency with the remainder being the former Ogmore (26.4%), Bridgend (17.2%) and Neath (1.6%) seats. For the latest politics news in Wales sign up to our newsletter here.
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The election is taking place on Thursday, July 4 and 32 MPs will be elected to represent Wales.
Where does the constituency cover?
The communities of Aberavon, Briton Ferry, Baglan, Bryn, Cwmavon, Cymmer, Glyncorrwg, Gwynfi, Margam, Port Talbot, Sandfields and Taibach will be in the new Aberafan Maesteg constituency along with Pontrhydyfen and Tonmawr, (Pelenna from Neath) along with Cornelly and Pyle (from Bridgend), and Caerau, Nantyfyllon, Maesteg, Cwmfelin, Llangynwyd (Caerau, Maesteg and Llyngynwyd from Ogmore).
Skewen, Llandarcy, Jersey Marine and Crymlyn Burrows will join the new Neath and Swansea East constituency.
Here is the map from the Boundary Commission for Wales for the Aberafon Maesteg constituency:
You can also find your constituency by entering your postcode here:
What happened in the general election in 2019
Who is standing?
Captain Beany (Independent)
Colin Deere (Plaid Cymru)
Justin Griffiths (Lib Dem)
Mark Griffiths (Reform UK)
Nigel Hill (Green Party)
Stephen Kinnock (Labour)
Abigail Mainon (Conservatives)
Rhiannon Morrissey (Heritage Party)
The candidates
All candidates were all asked to answer the same questions, the responses received are all below:
Captain Beany - independent
Captain Beany did not answer the questions in order but sent the following statement: Captain Beany is one REAL life half-baked caped crusading superhero heralding from Planet Beanus who is on one full blown mission to that of helping human 'beans' for the beanifit of beankind! Since crash landing on Planet Wales many decades ago, he has totally devoted himself to maximise his charismatic colourful persona to raise thousands, upon thousands of pounds for all manner of charitable fundraising causes close to his fart! His bean dream one day is to organise an annual charity 'National Baked Beans On Toast Day' event and needless to say, raise a toast of the town on behalf for this intrepid saucy super bean! May the force be with you as you cast your vote on beanpoll day!
Justin Griffiths - Lib Dem
I’m 58 years old and live in my home town of Llanelli. I am married with two sons from a previous marriage. I was educated at Old Road primary School and at the Craig Comprehensive School. After graduating from Aston University with a chemical engineering degree, I worked for 27 years in British Steel (Tata) with 25 of those years in Port Talbot before being made redundant in 2016 at the age of 50. I know what it is like to suddenly face unemployment, worry about keeping a roof over your head and paying the bills. Those years were fraught with both personal and financial issues, and I understand what the workforce, their families and the wider local community are going through at this time. In my spare time I like to walk my 2 rescue dogs, DIY around the house and occasionally a round of golf.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
The policy I would like see become law is proportional representation - the Lib Dems are keen advocates for a change to the first past the post system. We have a multi party democracy but an election system rooted in the 19th century, we now need an election system that supports this and also keeps the elected MP in touch their constituents, that’s why the single transferable vote, is the best proportional voting system for this country.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
As one man that’s a tough question!! Naturally you wish you could fix everything. I think two things go hand in hand. High levels of poverty and an overstretched NHS. Poverty impacts hugely on people’s lives. With a huge number of people depending on food banks, unable to heat their homes and just buy the basic essentials of everyday life, something has gone badly wrong in this country. Low incomes and poverty impact greatly on people’s health which in turn sees greater numbers needing the NHS which is already under immense pressure. I agree with the party’s stance by implementing a proper, one-off windfall tax on the super-profits of oil and gas producers and traders.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
Tough call. I originally thought David Lloyd George (being Liberal obviously) because of his ability to think outside the box and paving the way for the Welfare System. However, its Clement Attlee with his ability to make quick and decisive decisions. Under Attlee, his government introduced a raft of legislation which still impacts our lives today. Besides extending the welfare state including a new social security system, Attlee oversaw the creation of the NHS in 1946 working alongside his minister for Health Nye Bevan. The economy, education, workers’ rights and housing were further domestic areas where Attlee successfully introduced sweeping reforms.
Colin Deere - Plaid Cymru
My name is Colin Deere, I am 64 years of age, and I am standing as Plaid Cymru candidate for the new Aberafan & Maesteg constituency. I have lived all my life in Port Talbot and currently reside on the Aberafan Seafront. I am married with three children and two grandsons. I am a Life Member of Taibach RFC and played over 400 games for the Club. I co-write and take part in the annual Rugby Club pantomime that raises money for various local charities. Recently, I completed a charity walk along Hadrian’s Wall that has to date raised over £10k for a local school that caters for children with autism and additional learning needs. My hobbies include rugby, walking and gardening.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
Should I become an MP I would want to push, as a matter of urgency, nationalisation legislation such as the Iron and Steel Act 1949. This would nationalise the British steel industry and the Port Talbot steelworks which is facing the prospect of huge job losses which will devastate the town of Port Talbot and outlying areas located in the constituency of Aberafan & Maesteg. Steel, along with other commodities such as water, gas and electric are not things that should be manufactured and managed by the private sector, and should be placed into public ownership.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
There are a number of issues facing Wales at the moment but the major issue, which in turn leads to many others, is social deprivation. Wales has borne more than its fair share of the brunt of the austerity years with redundancies in the coal, steel and petroleum industries taking effect since the early 1980s. We need initiatives that will create jobs and therefore need to be less reliant on importing commodities that could be manufactured in Wales. We also need to address the imbalance in funding that Wales receives from Westminster which requires a comprehensive review of the Barnett formula to ensure there is a fairer funding model for Wales. We can also tackle social deprivation through other income streams which Wales is denied such as HS2 money, and also revenue from the Crown Estate.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
It is my opinion that the best British Prime Minister was Clement Attlee who led the immediate post-war Labour Government which created massive improvements in social services and the public sector. His government nationalised coal, railways, steel, electricity, gas, road transport and also created the welfare state and the National Health Service. To embark on such a radical programme at such a time when there was little money available for investment was commendable to say the least.
Nigel Hill - Green Party
I have been a trade unionist all my life and joined the Green Party in 2013. I'm 67 years old and throughout my career, I’ve had a wide range of roles within the NHS. During my employment, I have always had workers at the forefront of my mind; I've engaged in industrial action over pay and student grants. Since 2017, I have been the elected Assistant Branch Secretary of my union in Neath Port Talbot.
In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit by cycling and going for walks in our amazing hills, mountains, towns and beaches. You’ll also find me tending to my garden. My wife and I are excited to become grandparents soon.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
At present, employers can so easily override terms and conditions of workers’ eroding their rights. In my current role, I meet many employees who have been let down by the current state of employment laws. Therefore, a law I’d like to introduce would be around consolidating employment regulations into a more robust law, ensuring all workers are protected. I’d like this law to be the employment regulations equivalent of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
This would serve to protect workers' rights with the setting up of a specific regulatory body that was funded to oversee in a proactive sense Employers Policies. An organization such as ACAS would be given new rights of inspection and enforcement.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
In Wales, there is a chronic shortage of funding. The Barnett formula awards a proportion of the UK GDP to each country based on population figures. Wales and Northern Ireland, with their relatively small populations, lose out significantly compared with Scotland and England. The UK Government does have to power to modify the formula but chooses not to. The Green Party would give Senedd Cymru tax-raising powers so Wales can have increased financial control instead of being victim to an unfair formula. This would help us address the inequality between Wales and England, including Welsh students being behind English peers or our poor NHS which sees Welsh patients waiting on average 46% longer for appointments and often having to travel to England for specialists.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
I would choose Charles Grey who served as Prime Minister between 1830 and 1834. He oversaw a lot of big social reforms including the Reform Act of 1832 which was the start of electoral change giving men and women over 18 the vote. He also brought in the Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire in 1833. Under him, served Robert Owen who was instrumental in the creation of trade unionism and brought in laws against the exploitation of children and improved working conditions as a manufacturer. I respect his deep social conscience and practice of putting welfare measures above profit.
Stephen Kinnock - Labour
I've been the MP for Aberavon since 2015, and since 2022 I've been the Shadow Minister for Immigration. Other front bench roles include Shadow Minister for Asia & Pacific, and Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces. Prior to becoming an MP I worked for the British Council, for the World Economic Forum, and in strategic consulting.
I was born in Tredegar in 1970. I went to Cambridge University to study modern languages, and then did my MA at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Since 1996, I’ve been married to Helle, the former Social Democrat Prime Minister of Denmark, who I met in Bruges. We have two children, Johanna and Milo.
I’m a big sports fan and enjoy following football and rugby and I regularly play for the parliamentary football team. I also enjoy listening to politics podcasts (which I do know is a bit sad!).
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
Labour’s £3 billion Clean Steel Fund will be a game-changer for the Port Talbot steelworks in my constituency, and for steel-making across the UK.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
The biggest issue facing Wales is that Tata Steel is fixated on its plan for decarbonising the Port Talbot works and the downstream plants, whereas it should be adopting the compelling multi-union plan. The multi-union plan offers a bridge to the future, rather than the cliff edge that Tata is pushing. I will continue to fight tooth and nail for the multi-union plan, both in Parliament and through direct engagement with Tata.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
Clement Attlee is the greatest peacetime Prime Minister in the history of the United Kingdom. His 1945 Labour government transformed every aspect of Britain, from our NHS to council housing, to membership of NATO.
Rhiannon Morrisey - Heritage Party
I am a 57-year-old grandmother. I spent eight years serving in the British Army for the Royal Signals. I have since had numerous other roles in order to make ends meet. I then hit a point in life where ill health led to several operations, which have forced me out of the workplace and into a world of financial struggles beyond my control. It is these hardships and struggles which deprive me of the enjoyment of hobbies, nevertheless it is my passion for change which leads me to standing in this general election.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
As per the Heritage Party manifesto I will be looking more towards repealing laws. A big one for me will be the Climate Change Act and ending ‘net zero’. We will lift all restrictions on carbon dioxide so that we can rebuild our coal, oil, gas and nuclear energy infrastructure. Keeping the lights on in our homes and businesses with cheap, continuous, reliable energy.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
Dictatorship is the biggest issue facing Wales. If elected I will action a public inquiry into the betrayal of the Welsh people and the demise of democracy. For example, the 20mph restrictions, and the removal of parental opt out from relationships and sexuality education. More people signed the petition against the 20mph restrictions than voted for the entire Labour government. There has been some backtracking, but they have proven their determination to defy the will of the people. The removal of parental opt out from Relationship and sexuality education was rejected in 2 consultations, 87% the first time and 68% the second. The Welsh government defended this move in the High Court costing the Welsh people an excessive legal bill of over £100,000.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
All Prime Ministers have their faults. Winston Churchill gave the nation moral and strength to get through WW2, for which I commend him. In his own words “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Never, never, never give up!”.
