Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
May 13, 2020 13:26:50 GMT
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Post by Penddu on May 13, 2020 13:26:50 GMT
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro) is a mouthful in either language and it is often referred to simply as CWSP. As its name suggests it consists of two distinct parts - the southern part of the County of Pembrokeshire (Sir Penfro) and the south western corner of the county of Carmarthenshire (Sir Gar) - including the whole of the town of Carmarthen and not just the west of the town as the constituency name suggests.
South Pembrokeshire is the larger part of the constituency, with around 60% of the electorate, and is on the English side of the Landsker - the imaginery but distictive boundary between English speaking and Welsh speaking areas. Following the Anglo-Norman conquest of Wales in the 13th century, the local Welsh population was displaced by English and Flemish settlers based in the walled towns of Pembroke (Penfro) and Tenby (Dinbych-y-Pysgod) and the area is often referred to as 'Little England beyond Wales'.
The area has a strong dairy agricultural base - as well as a strong tourism sector along the National Park coastline. The Milford Haven waterway at the northern edge of the constituency is the largest port in the UK by value, which imports 25% of UK gas requirements through its two Liquified Natural Gas at two terminals. The gas also feeds Pembroke Power Station which is the largest gas-fired power station in Europe. There is also an Irish ferry port at Pembroke Dock.
Crossing the Landsker back into Welsh speaking Carmarthenshire, and the area is largely agricultural. Carmarthen is the largest town in the constituency, and its name is an anglicised version of Caer Myrddin or Merlins Fort - Merlin being the legendary wizard from the court of King Arthur. His original name of Myrddin was changed by medieaval monks because when written in Latin as Merdin it had a different meaning altogether. The Caer refers to the roman fortress of Moridunum on which the town grew.
Politically rural South Pembrokeshire is largely Conservative but with a strong Labour base around Pembroke and Pebroke Dock. Rural Carmarthenshire is mainly Plaid with a Labour presence around Carmarthen Town. Today it is represented by Conservative at Westminster and Cardiff Bay, but has been previously held by Labour and in 2007 there was almost a three-way tie in the Assembly election with Labour, Conservatives and Plaid being separated by only 250 votes.
South Pembrokeshire is the larger part of the constituency, with around 60% of the electorate, and is on the English side of the Landsker - the imaginery but distictive boundary between English speaking and Welsh speaking areas. Following the Anglo-Norman conquest of Wales in the 13th century, the local Welsh population was displaced by English and Flemish settlers based in the walled towns of Pembroke (Penfro) and Tenby (Dinbych-y-Pysgod) and the area is often referred to as 'Little England beyond Wales'.
The area has a strong dairy agricultural base - as well as a strong tourism sector along the National Park coastline. The Milford Haven waterway at the northern edge of the constituency is the largest port in the UK by value, which imports 25% of UK gas requirements through its two Liquified Natural Gas at two terminals. The gas also feeds Pembroke Power Station which is the largest gas-fired power station in Europe. There is also an Irish ferry port at Pembroke Dock.
Crossing the Landsker back into Welsh speaking Carmarthenshire, and the area is largely agricultural. Carmarthen is the largest town in the constituency, and its name is an anglicised version of Caer Myrddin or Merlins Fort - Merlin being the legendary wizard from the court of King Arthur. His original name of Myrddin was changed by medieaval monks because when written in Latin as Merdin it had a different meaning altogether. The Caer refers to the roman fortress of Moridunum on which the town grew.
Politically rural South Pembrokeshire is largely Conservative but with a strong Labour base around Pembroke and Pebroke Dock. Rural Carmarthenshire is mainly Plaid with a Labour presence around Carmarthen Town. Today it is represented by Conservative at Westminster and Cardiff Bay, but has been previously held by Labour and in 2007 there was almost a three-way tie in the Assembly election with Labour, Conservatives and Plaid being separated by only 250 votes.
