General election 2024 result for Bridgend: The winning MP and the constituency vote totals

The winning MP has been announced for Bridgend in the 2024 General Election. It was a landslide victory for Labour's Chris Elmore in Bridgend, who received 16,516 votes out of the 41,482 total votes - a 56.71% turnout - cast by the electorate.

Previously MP for Ogmore, "elated" Mr Elmore now faces a far bigger constituency and acknowledged after his win that there is a "huge amount to do" in the region. "I know I’ve got to rebuild trust in this constituency with the electorate after being let down by the previous MP," he told WalesOnline. "So I’m just so humbled that people have put their trust in me to represent them for the next five years."

His win comes after a tumultuous period for the constituency in the months before the election. The seat had previously been held by Conservative MP Jamie Wallis since 2019, who confirmed in October last year that he would not be standing in the next general election, due to reduction in constituencies which meant part of the former Ogmore constituency was added to the Bridgend patch. Then last month, Tory candidate Sam Trask withdrew from the running after graphic sexual messages he wrote online were discovered, with Anita Boateng parachuted in at a late stage.

READ MORE: What is my general election 2024 constituency - as 90% of areas hit by boundary changes

READ MORE: Who are the candidates where I live in the general election 2024

Mr Elmore said he has “every confidence” in Keir Starmer if he’s elected as Prime Minster and added he now wanted to “focus on working for the people of Bridgend and Porthcawl”. Asked what his main priorities are for the constituency he said the first was “meaningful regeneration”, including working on rail infrastructure, and secondly, more broadly, to “bring more skills and investment” into the area. “I know people want to see positive change in the two towns across the constituency and I’m really determined to play my part now in delivering that."

Labour's landslide victory in Bridgend may not have been that unexpected, but the count still threw up some surprises. Reform UK candidate Caroline Jones came second with 7, 921 votes, knocking Conservative candidate Anita Boateng into third place with 6,764. Ahead of the results, Ms Jones told WalesOnline: "[Reform UK] is here for the long haul. We’re not here today and gone tomorrow…We’re laying the foundations for our party." She added there was “absolutely” a future for Reform in Wales.

Six candidates contested this seat. The breakdown of results was as follows:

• Chris Elmore, Labour: 16, 516 (39.92%)

• Caroline Jones, Reform UK: 7, 921 (19.14%)

• Anita Boateng, Conservatives: 6,764 (16.35%)

• Iolo Caudy, Plaid Cymru: 3,629 (8.77%)

• Mark John, Independent: 3,338 (8.07%)

• Debra Ann Cooper, Green Party: 1,760 (4.25%)

• Claire Waller, Lib Dems: 1,446 (3.49%)

• Lab majority 8,595 (20.77%)

For this election, boundaries of all but one Welsh seat changed and instead of 40 constituencies, there are now 32 in Wales. The idea behind it is to make all Westminster constituencies the same size. Using figures from electoral calculus, we can see how this constituency is changing. The Bridgend constituency will be 82.8% of the existing Bridgend constituency and 31.8% of Ogmore, a Labour held seat.

The election took place on Thursday, July 4 and 32 MPs have been elected to represent Wales.

Where does the constituency cover?

This constituency includes Bryncoch, Ynysawdre, Morfa, Pendre, Sarn, Newton and Rest Bay.

You can see the full map here:

What happened in the general election in 2019?

The full list of candidates:

• Anita Boateng (Conservatives)

• Iolo Caudy (Plaid Cymru)

• Debra Ann Cooper (Green Party)

• Chris Elmore (Labour)

• Mark John (Independent)

• Caroline Jones (Reform UK)

• Claire Waller (Lib Dem)

The candidates

All candidates were all asked to answer the same questions, the responses received are all below:

Debra Ann Cooper - Green Party

Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP

In terms of law it depends on how broad you wish that answer to be. Ecocide I would like to see as a criminal offence. I would like to see the House of Lords pass Zane's Law. (The child who died when a toxic gas entered his house during a flood believed to be from a landfill site).

River and sea pollution are huge concerns so it is more that I wish by all means available to facilitate water control measures which capture rainwater and release it/create and protect soak away zones into suitable areas. Then fully fund upgrades to sewage processing.

What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?

The biggest issue is water. It could be our greatest energy resource with the correct strategy, technology and investment. If kept clean our rivers and seas are a source of recreation to for humans and a thriving habitat for our wildlife. As rainfall, along with tidal surges are becoming a less predictable feature, due to climate change then we have to be proactive in managing our water. The plumbing and pipework for the control of sewage is in need of an intelligent and carefully implemented UK wide upgrade.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

The greatest prime minister that never was is John Smith. Had he not collapsed and died in Parliament he would have been the PM instead on Tony Blair. His loss was a personal tragedy for his family and tragedy for the UK. I do not believe the wars that Tony Blair triggered would have happened had John Smith taken his rightful place as PM.

Iolo Caudy - Plaid Cymru

I am 29 years old and was born at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where my family has lived for at least two generations, and where I have spent my entire life. After attending Bryntirion Comprehensive School, I began studying medicine at cardiff-university>Cardiff University. However, my father's sudden passing led me to reassess my life and leave medicine, primarily due to my disillusionment with the NHS's poor management. Recently, I completed a part-time Mechanical Engineering degree while working in the building services industry. During this period, my younger brother tragically passed away at age 20 from a mental health-related accidental overdose. We often discussed politics and envisioned the changes we could make if in government. His untimely death inspired me to become more actively involved in politics to promote social change, which was my primary motivation for running for council in Pen-Y-Fai. Since then, my aunt's passing from abdominal cancer has further fuelled my determination to improve society for everyone.

Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP

There are several issues, but the foremost one for me would be to criminalise politicians knowingly lying or misleading the public. We don't tolerate dishonesty from doctors, nurses, lawyers, or teachers, so why is it societally expected for politicians? The level of trust in politicians has plummeted to the point where people are becoming disillusioned with the entire system. It's crucial to take steps to rebuild trust and confidence in our government officials.

What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?

I believe that Wales has been underfunded and neglected. I would prioritise enhancing the Health and Well-being of Wales and its people through improvements such as:

• Making sure the NHS is a service that aims to keeping people healthy and prevent illness not just treating illnesses,

• Implementing a living wage for apprenticeships and easing the financial burden on students.

• Guaranteeing a real working wage so that people can feel stable on their income,

• Moving towards adopting a 4-day work week to boost productivity and morale.

• Ensuring the housing supply adequately meets community needs.

• Developing our energy sector by establishing a national energy service for Wales

• Ensuring that we protect our environment, whist protecting and maintain our rural land and communities.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

I would have to say Clement Attlee. His Health Minister, Aneurin Bevan, inspired by the Tredegar Medical Aid Society in his hometown in South Wales, fought tirelessly to establish the National Health Service, ensuring free medical care at the point of need across the UK, regardless of wealth. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest achievements of any prime minister. Additionally, Attlee's implementation of numerous social reforms to improve the quality of life for the working class is highly commendable.

Chris Elmore - Labour

I’m Chris Elmore and I’m standing as the Welsh Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgend and Porthcawl and since 2016 I have served as the Member of Parliament for Ogmore. I’ve recently hit the ripe old age of 40 in December last year! Bridgend is very much home as its where my wife and I are bringing up our three-year-old, who is growing up far too fast. I’ve been working in politics, in one shape or form for 20 years now – whether that be as an elected councillor and cabinet member in the Vale of Glamorgan, working in Public Affairs or now as a Member of Parliament. In what feels like a lifetime ago I was also a trainee butcher. My garden is very much my slice of paradise that I look forward to each weekend when I’m back from Parliament – it’s somewhere where I can switch off from the political noise.

Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP

Employment and paternity rights are areas of policy that I have been passionate about for years and I was lucky enough to make a meaningful change through my Private Member’s Bill this year. My Bill, the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill, ensures that the surviving partner has the right to take leave from day one if the mother of the child dies during pregnancy or in childbirth with a leave entitlement of up to 52 weeks. It also allows for a leave provision in situations where the child also dies, meaning that the surviving partner can stay on paternity leave for a period of time. As a father and as husband I genuinely couldn’t think of a worse situation to be in, and I am pleased that my Bill will allow people the time they need to grieve and to plan for the future.

What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?

Undoubtedly the single biggest issue facing communities across Wales, and indeed the United Kingdom as a whole, is the cost-of-living crisis. With sky-high energy costs, stagnant wages and the worst living standards in more than 50 years – residents are angry and frustrated with 14 years of Tory austerity. I have had constituency surgeries where nurses tell me they’re turning to foodbanks and pensioners who have been forced to just heat one room during winter because energy bills are too high.

Hard-working people shouldn’t have to worry about affording the basics such as heating and eating. A Labour Government in Wales working with a UK Labour Government in Westminster will be able to bring down living costs through the establishment of GB Energy which will cut energy bills, create jobs and contribute to a greener economy.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

For me, the best Prime Minister we have had has to be Clement Atlee – he truly was one of the most transformational and consequential leaders of the 20th century. You have to cast your mind back to the country he inherited in 1945; a country ravaged by war, left with crumbling infrastructure and a generation lost in conflict.

Without Atlee’s Labour Government we wouldn't have had the National Health Service, nor would we have had social security without the introduction of the National Insurance Act (1946). Labour Governments are at their best when they are at the most transformational and the 1945-51 Atlee administration didn’t just build back a war-torn country it set in motion policies and institutions that would stand the test of time and benefit generations thereafter. Under Keir Starmer, we’ll have another transformational Labour Government to end the pain of 14 years of the Tories.