Yahoo News General election 2024: The candidates standing in Clwyd North
The Clwyd North constituency is a new constituency in 2024, taking part of two Conservative-held constituencies. The majority is the former Clwyd West constituency (69.8%) which has been represented by David Jones, who is retiring this election.
The rest of the constituency is the Vale of Clwyd seat (64.1%) which is being abolished. North Wales will have seven, not nine constituencies as a result of the review.
Instead of 40 constituencies, there are now 32 in Wales and 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. It will be 76.9% of the Delyn seat, represented by Labour's Mark Tami, and 35.9% of Vale of Clwyd, 16.1% of Clwyd West and 9.1% of Clwyd South, all three of those voted Conservative at the last election.
The boundaries of all but one Welsh seat have changed ahead of the 2024 election, only Ynys Mon (the island of Anglesey) remains untouched, all others have seen changes which could impact the results on election night. You can read the background to the changes here.
READ MORE: What is my general election 2024 constituency - as 90% of areas hit by boundary changes
READ MORE: UK general election postal vote details including how to register and how it works
The election is taking place on Thursday, July 4 and 32 MPs will be elected to represent Wales.
Where does the constituency cover?
It includes Rhiw, Towyn, Gele, Bodelwyddan and Trefnant Lower wards.
You can also find your constituency by entering your postcode here:
What happened in the general election in 2019
Who is standing?
Gill German (Labour)
Martyn James Hogg (Green Party)
Darren Millar (Conservatives)
Jamie Orange (Reform UK)
Paul John Rowlinson (Plaid Cymru)
David James Wilkins (Lib Dem)
The candidates
All candidates are being asked the same questions, and their answers will be added here once received.
Gill German - Labour
I was brought up locally and have two children. I was a local teacher for over 20 years and came into politics because I saw life getting more and more difficult for the families of the children coming through my door.
I knew I needed to step up to do more and stood for county council election. Now I am Deputy Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families. I am doing what I can to support our communities in the face of huge pressures on our public services, but it is clear to me that the change we need is at the top, in Westminster. So I am stepping up again: this time to be MP for Clwyd North. I will speak up and stand up for the people who live here and work hard to make Clwyd North the best it can be.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
Labour's New Deal for Working People is a core part of Labour’s offer to the country and something I absolutely want to see become law. We are committed to bringing forward legislation to Parliament within 100 days of being elected to deliver the New Deal and to consult widely on its implementation. The New Deal will include a ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts and measures to tackle bogus self-employment and insecure work; a genuine living wage; flexible working rights; strengthening sick pay; reviewing parental leave and ending fire and rehire. A more secure workplace means a more fulfilled and productive workforce, which is good for us all: in Clwyd North, in Wales and across the UK.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
I have spoken to thousands of people across Clwyd North since I was selected as a candidate just under a year ago and the biggest issue by far that I hear on the doorstep is the cost of living. When the economy was crashed by the UK government two years ago, it was people in places like Clwyd North who paid and are still paying the price: with bills up, food prices up, mortgage rates up and living standards down.
First and foremost, after more than a decade of chaos and decline, we need economic stability for the UK. Then, and only then, can we begin to see the economic growth Wales needs: with good, skilled jobs in industries such as clean energy to bring bills down and wages up. I will be standing up every day to bring economic growth to Clwyd North: making the most of our natural resources, boosting the local economy and putting money into public services.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
The achievements of Labour Prime Ministers – from the NHS to the minimum wage– have made such a lasting difference that it is impossible to choose just one. From Clement Atlee’s visionary, transformative post-war government that brought us social security, a major programme of house building and of course our greatest achievement, the NHS to the great change brought about by Harold Wilson, including legislation to outlaw racial discrimination, the Equal Pay Act and the Open University to the progress brought by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown with record investment in public services, the National Minimum Wage and the Human Rights Act, Labour’s achievements in power have been significant and life changing. I will be working hard day in, day out right up to the day of the general election to put Keir Starmer into Number 10 as our next Labour Prime Minister and see these kinds of achievements once again.
Paul Rowlinson - Plaid Cymru
Like many people in Clwyd North, I was born and brought up in England, so my affections lie on both sides of Offa’s Dyke. I moved to Wales to train as a teacher at Bangor University and later worked in housing and local government. Having learned Welsh as an adult, I worked as a freelance translator, in partnership with my wife Ffion. We have three children.
I have set up, or helped to set up, several community ventures including a community shop and post office, a community hydroelectric scheme that has reduced the carbon footprint locally and provides an income for the benefit of the community, and a street pastors initiative, sending out teams of volunteers to help keep people safe late at night. I am a member of the Books Council of Wales and serve as the Chair of Governors for my local secondary school.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
I joined Plaid Cymru because it is a party that welcomes people from all backgrounds and puts the interests of those living in Wales first. I believe that all our public services are seriously underfunded and not providing the quality of service we need and deserve. I would like to see fair funding for Wales, based on people’s needs not on population. This should include the nearly £4 billion due as our share of the money spent on HS2 in England, which could vastly improve our bus and train services, and the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales, as it is in Scotland, so that we can benefit from the wind turbines off our shores.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
The biggest problem facing Wales is also the biggest problem facing the whole world: the climate and nature crisis. The damage done by global heating is becoming more and more obvious each year – heat waves, forest fires, drought and famine. In Wales we are seeing more frequent storms and flooding, while rising sea levels threaten our coasts. Many of our native species are under threat or in decline.
We know the answer: we must reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide and protect habitats and carbon sinks such at peatlands. This needs urgent action by government, but also at the community and individual levels. Wales has the natural resources to provide green energy, solar, hydro, wind and tide and our homes need better insulation to reduce energy use and costs and provide warmer, healthier places to live. Plaid Cymru’s ambitious plans can create well-paid green jobs throughout our country.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
I don’t really have a strong opinion on this. We owe a huge debt to David Lloyd George for his reforms as Chancellor, particularly the introduction of the state pension in 1909, which arguably formed the foundation of the welfare state. His premiership after the end of the Great War, in coalition with a Conservative majority, achieved little, however. After the Second World War, Clement Atlee implemented the Beveridge Report and presided over the foundation of the NHS, which has made a huge difference to all our lives. Therefore, these are the two most important figures to me.
David Wilkins - Lib Dem
I’m 39-years-old, live in Rhos-on-Sea with my wife, our two children, and our Welsh Springer Spaniel. My involvement in community politics began in 2019, driven by a desire to enhance political representation in our area. In my free time, I enjoy walking and cycling, often accompanied by my family. Additionally, I volunteer as a leader at the local Scout group and regularly volunteer with local food banks and community fridges, helping reduce food waste and support people in food poverty.
I am a serving councillor on the Bay of Colwyn Town Council and work full time as a teacher at a local secondary school in Colwyn Bay. With 17 years of experience teaching in mainstream schools, I have witnessed the significant decline in opportunities for young people over this period.
Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP
Updating the voting system so that everyone’s vote matters is very important. We need to change an old voting system that often makes people vote against a party. People should feel confident voting for the policies and candidates that best represent them. Switching to proportional representation would help us fix inequalities and make people feel more connected to politics.
What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?
Ending the shame of child poverty in Wales is part of a wider UK issue. Some areas in the new Clwyd North constituency are among the most deprived in the UK, highlighting the failure of both the Cardiff and Westminster governments to support our young people. Across Conwy and Denbighshire, 1 in 3 children live in poverty. Failing to provide services, support, and educational opportunities for these children steals their future and locks them into lifelong poverty.
Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?
Clement Attlee – implemented sweeping reforms that were challenging and controversial at the time, but are now central to our way of life. He should inspire modern politicians to tackle today's crises, including runaway climate change, crumbling public services, and stagnant social mobility.
