General election 2024: The candidates standing in Bangor Aberconwy

The new seat of Bangor Aberconwy is made up of the whole of the former Aberconwy constituency, won by the Conservatives in 2019, as well as 40.9% of Arfon, a Plaid Cymru seat held by outgoing Hywel Williams and 14.2% of Clwyd West, also a Conservative seat.

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 see it is taking a big chunk of the Arfon seat.

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?

This constituency includes Betws-y-Coed, Bryn, Eglwysbach, Gogarth, Mostyn as well as Betws yn Rhos, Llangernyw, Llanrhaeadr-Yng-Nghinmeirch and Arllechwedd, Deiniol, Dewi and Garth.

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

What happened in the general election in 2019

Who is standing?

• John Clark (Reform UK)

• Petra Haig (Green Party)

• Claire Hughes (Labour)

• Kathrine Jones (Socialist Labour Party)

• Steve Marshall (Climate Party)

• Robin Millar (Conservatives)
  

• Rachael Roberts (Lib Dem)

• Catrin Wager (Plaid Cymru)

The candidates

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

Claire Hughes - Labour

Age: 45. I was born in Bangor, grew up in Penmaenmawr and live in Llanfairfechan with my family and two teenage kids.

I have spent my career working in the digital sector, mostly with start-ups in the technology and innovation space. I have previously started and run my own training business helping hundreds of people start a small business. I am a published author and have worked on digital transformation projects including turning redundant retail units into workspace.

I like to spend any free time in the outdoors - we are spoiled for choice here, sandwiched between the Carneddau mountains and stunning beaches! Sadly, my dog is too old to go for long walks now, so it's just me and a podcast, or a power-walk with my friends.

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

I would like to see automatic registration for voting become law across the UK. Too many people are shut out from democracy - Labour are already leading the way on this in Wales. But around 8 million people in the UK are missing from the electoral register, meaning they don't have a say. The current process is difficult and confusing, especially for young people and students who move around regularly.

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

The biggest issue facing us here are low wages and high house prices. Wage growth over the past 14 years of a Conservative Government in Westminster has been abysmal. How can young people save for a deposit when they can barely afford to cover their everyday living expenses? That's why my absolute focus will be on making work pay and attracting high-skilled, secure jobs to our area.

A UK Labour government will introduce legislation in Parliament within 100 days of entering government to boost wages and make work more secure. We'll introduce a genuine Living Wage, ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, and end fire and rehire.

Labour will also create GB Energy - a clean energy developer funded by a proper windfall tax on energy giants. This will create 650,000 jobs around the UK by 2030, and North Wales should be a global leader in the green energy revolution and I am absolutely determined to make this happen.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

I am very proud of the achievements of the last Labour government: over half a million children and a million pensioners lifted out of poverty. Record investment in the NHS, the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, introduction of the ECHR and of course, devolution for Wales. That progress transformed life chances in communities like ours.

Catrin Wager - Plaid Cymru

Originally from Dyffryn Nantlle, I’ve lived in Dyffryn Ogwen for over 20 years. I’m a mother to two boys and am a passionate campaigner for social justice and the environment.

I stepped into formal politics back in 2017, when I was elected to represent Menai ward, Bangor on Gwynedd Council. I’ve led on campaigns such as getting rid of the 'To Let' signs in Bangor and establishing a group to green the city, while bringing successful motions to council calling for free period products in the county's schools, and declaring a climate emergency.

In 2019 I was appointed to the cabinet, with responsibilities that included waste and recycling, maintaining highways and public green spaces, and flooding.

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

There's a lot of things I'd like to change about Westminster at the moment so it's hard to choose one!

Child poverty is a huge concern of mine, and I think that reluctance to Scrap the Twp Child limit for benefits has to go. Recent IFS studies suggest that 670,000 children will be affected by this cap by the end of the next parliament, and I don't understand why neither Labour nor the Tories will do anything about it. Investing in our children's future, and lifting children out of poverty should be a priority for any government.

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

Funding - The Barnett formula (which decides how Wales is funded) is out of date, does not operate on need, and has far too many loop holes. For example the scandal of HS2 which has been designated and England and Wales project even though not an inch of track will be laid in Wales has led to Wales missing out on around £4 billion pounds of funding. This simply isn't fair.

Plaid Cymru will demand fair funding from Westminster so that we can invest it back in the public services that are currently at breaking point under Welsh Labour - such as health, housing, education and social care. We have a positive ambition for a thriving future - but to make it happen, we need to secure the money Wales' owed, whoever is in government.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

I can't think of a UK Prime minister I've been impressed with during my lifetime - none have spoken to my core beliefs of fairness, humanity and equality. But I think Rhun ap Iorwerth would make a pretty great First Minister!