Are all these safe seats?

Hat Tip to Betsan Powys

The worst kept secret in British politics was finally confirmed today and the General Election will take place on Thursday May 6th.

So the coming weeks will be a chance to have your say and influence who represents you right, well not everywhere in Wales according to the Electoral Commission. According to them in 24 out of Wales 40 seats the result is already decided and all four parties have seats on the list, although the majority belong to Labour with 18 the other parties have two each.

The constituencies named are Aberavon, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff Central, Cardiff South & Penarth, Cardiff West, Carmarthen East & Dynefwr, Clwyd West, Cynon Valley, Delyn, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Islwyn, Llanelli, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, Monmouthshire, Newport East, Neath, Ogmore, Pontypridd, Preseli Pembrokeshire, Rhondda, Swansea East, Torfaen and Wrexham.

I would agree with most of diagnosis but they are working on 2005 figures and a lot has changed in Welsh politics since then, for instance Plaid Cymru are targeting Llanelli and could win it, the Conservative’s are targeting Bridgend and Delyn and if they win those seats David Cameron will certainly be on his way to No 10 Downing Street.

But they have also left out other safe seats like Labour’s Paul Flynn in Newport West, Hywel Williams in Caernarfon and People’s Voice Dai Davies in Blaenau Gwent does anyone seriously think those three will lose their seats and there are others.

So the election in Wales like the rest of the UK will be decided in the marginal’s like the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff North and the Vale of Clwyd as it normally is, but maybe all the parties should remember once in a while that safe seats are fine for the political parties not so good for the health of democracy especially when you are trying to regain voter trust.Any source