Sitting MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Nick Ainger, was returned to Westminster for a fourth successive term at last Thursday's General Election, albeit with a reduced majority of 4.7 per cent. Mr. Ainger, who was first elected to Parliament in 1992, mirrored his Labour colleagues' victory in the General Election with 13,953 votes, but this was some 1,396 down on his 2001 success. His 36.9 per cent share of the poll gave him a 1,910 advantage over nearest rival, Conservative candidate David Morris, who polled 12,043. Mr. Morris's share was an increase of 2.5 per cent in comparison to the number of votes cast locally for the Tories in 2001. Plaid Cymru's John Dixon was beaten into third place, with 5,582. Plaid Cymru saw a reduction of four per cent in votes, while the Liberal Democrats increased theirs by 5.5 per cent. Party candidate, John Allen, polled 5,399. Meanwhile, Josie MacDonald, who stood for the UK Independence Party, polled 545 votes; Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidate, Alex Daszak, took 237; and Nick Turner picked up 104. The total turnout of voters in the constituency was 37,863, which represented 67.3 per cent of the electorate and a two per cent increase on the last election.

NEW POST FOR NICK

There was more good news for re-elected MP Nick Ainger on Monday when he was the new Minister at the Wales Office. An MP since 1992, he originally represented the Pembroke constituency but, since 1997, following boundary changes has been the member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. Before his appointment, he was Welsh Whip in the Commons, and before that was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales. Born in October 1949, Mr. Ainger was an oil terminal rigger at Pembroke Dock before his election to the Commons. He was also a member of the old Dyfed County Council and a Transport and General Workers' Union branch secretary. Following the announcement, he said : "I am delighted to have been appointed to my new ministerial post. I have acquired a thorough working knowledge of the Wales Office since 1997. "I look forward to joining the Wales Office team at such an exciting time, particularly to the publication of the White Paper early in the new Parliament, setting out ways to give enhanced powers to the Assembly." Mr. Ainger is a member of the RSPB and Dyfed Wildlife Trust and his other interests include swimming, walking, agriculture and the arts. He is married with one daughter and lives at Pembroke Dock.