General election 2024: The candidates standing in Gower

The new look Gower constituency will include almost all the previous areas, as well as some of both Swansea West and Swansea East. Gower has previously been interesting electorally with the Conservatives taking the seat in 2015 by just 27 votes.

It has been held by Labour's Tonia Antoniazzi since 2017.

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.

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 is 90.8% of the old Gower constituency with 33.9% of Swansea West and 1% of Swansea East added.

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

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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?

It includes the wards of Penclawdd, West Cross, Pennard, Mawr and Pontardulais.

You can also find your constituency by entering your postcode here:

What happened in the general election in 2019

Who is standing?

• Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour)

• Franck Ngoie Banza (Lib Dem)

• Wayne Erasmus (Independent)

• Chris Evans (Green Party)

• Marc Rhys Jenkins (Conservatives)

• Kieran Thomas Pritchard (Plaid Cymru)

• Catrin Thomas (Reform UK)

The candidates

All candidates are being asked the same questions, and their answers will be added here once received.

Tonia Antoniazzi - Labour

It’s been a privilege to serve as the Member of Parliament for Gower since 2017. Before entering Parliament, I was a modern languages teacher in a comprehensive in Llanelli. In Parliament I’ve served as a Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland and have most recently been part of the Shadow Whips Team.

I live in Pontarddulais with my son Jac who is now studying at Cardiff Uni. In my younger days, I was honoured to be capped nine times for the Welsh Women’s Rugby team. I hung my rugby boots up a while ago, but still enjoy the odd run out for charity events. In my downtime I enjoy walking and playing tennis.

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

Labour’s New Deal for working people includes a number of policies I want to see enacted. These include a ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts, a genuine living wage and ending the scandalous practice of fire and rehire. Labour is committed to bringing in legislation on the New Deal within 100 working days of government.

One of our Labour’s key commitments is to set up Great British energy – a publicly owned, clean power company to cut bills and boost energy security. My constituents, along with millions across the country, are suffering because of high energy bills. This is because we are dangerously dependent on importing oil and gas.

It’s vital that we introduce cleaner, homegrown power. We would fund this by introducing a windfall tax on the big gas and oil companies. Only then can we start the transition to cleaner power and lower energy bills.

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

The cost-of-living crisis is still having a huge impact. Fourteen years of Tory rule has left families worse off. Whether it’s energy bills, prices in shops or mortgage payments, Gower constituents are having to pay more. Labour’s missions to deliver economic stability and set up Great British Energy will ease the burden that has been brought on working people by the Conservatives.

Ultimately, I believe that the issues that Wales faces can only be addressed by two Labour governments - one in the Senedd and one in Westminster - working together to bring about the changes we need.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

Tony Blair. With the help of Gordon Brown as Chancellor, child poverty fell drastically. Sadly, we now have a new generation of children living in poverty. We need to shift focus back on giving children and young people opportunities to flourish in their communities. Only two Labour governments working together would provide this.

Marc Rhys Jenkins - Conservative

I'm Marc Jenkins and have had a diverse career, starting as an Olympic triathlete, which gave me a strong foundation in discipline and resilience. Alongside my wife, Helen, who is also an Olympian, we have dedicated our lives to sports and family. We have two young children who inspire me daily to work towards a better future for our community and country.

In addition to my sporting career, I have a deep commitment to community service. This led me to establish a charity focused on promoting health and well-being through sports, providing opportunities for young people to engage in physical activities and develop their potential. Our charity works to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, has the chance to experience the benefits of sports and an active lifestyle.

Despite my involvement in politics, I do not see myself as a typical politician; instead, I am driven by a desire to make a genuine difference in our society.

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

If elected as an MP, I am committed to seeing a policy that restores integrity and honesty in our politics become law. This policy would enforce strict transparency measures and a rigorous adherence to the ministerial code, ensuring that decisions are always made in the best interest of the people, rather than for personal or political gain. I am entering politics to help this country and most importantly represent Gower.

By implementing these reforms, my goal is to rebuild trust in our political system, demonstrating a commitment to the values of transparency, accountability, and service to the community.

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

The biggest issue facing Wales today is the inadequate performance of our public services, particularly in healthcare and education. Under 25 years of Welsh Labour governance, these critical areas have consistently underperformed compared to the rest of the UK. If elected, I will advocate for comprehensive reforms from Westminster to address these shortcomings. While this is a devolved matter, there needs to be increased scrutiny and involvement to ensure a patient or student in Wales can expect the same level of service as England. By addressing these issues through legislative changes at the national level, I aim to improve the quality of life for all residents in Gower and across Wales.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

In my view, the best British Prime Minister has been Sir Winston Churchill. His leadership was instrumental in defending freedom and democracy against tyranny. As we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, it’s essential to remember Churchill’s unwavering resolve and inspirational leadership during one of the darkest times in our history. His ability to unite the nation and lead with courage and conviction provided a foundation for victory and peace. As we see war in Europe and increased conflicts around the world, we should draw inspiration from Churchill's example.