SINCE the constituency’s creation in 1983, Labour has held firmly onto Islwyn with just three MPs representing the area over the past 22 years.

The former coal mining district was first represented by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock and was then taken by former Free Press editor Don Touhig, now Lord Touhig, at a 1995 by-election.

Lord Touhig, who became under secretary of state for Wales, won the seat with a majority of just over 12,000 but later improved the margin in the General Election of 1997, when he won with a 22,000 majority.

Labour was surprised to see Plaid Cymru win the seat in the first Welsh Assembly election in 1999, with a number of Labour councillors also losing the Islwyn wards at the local authority elections.

Lord Touhig kept hold of the parliamentary seat at both the 2001 and 2005 elections and his decision to stand down in 2010 was another surprise.

Formerly known as Bedwellty, Islwyn stayed in Labour’s hands in 2010 when Chris Evans won with a 12,215 majority.

One of the major challenges in the former mining area is regeneration after the loss of its main source of employment- the pits.

The main towns in Islwyn are Blackwood, Newbridge, Cross Keys and Risca, with the numbers of voters rising when Maesycwmmer and Aberbargoed transferred from the Caerphilly constituency.

FACT FILE:

Proportion of the population aged 65 years and over - 18.6%

General ‘good’ health rate – 74.8%

The proportion of the population identified as ‘non-white’ – 1.5%

Average house prices - £99,999

Employment rate, aged 16-64 – 67.6%

Unemployment rate, aged 16 years and over – 5.9%

Child and working tax credits, proportion of families benefiting – 27.2%

Average personal income - £18,800

Number of businesses per 10,000 residents – 191.1 Units

2010 General Election:

Electorate 54,866

Votes Cast 34,684

Turnout 63.2%

Results

Labour win

49% share

12,215 majority