Newly-elected AM for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Angela Burns (Welsh Conservative), says she is thrilled with her election victory. The 49-year-old company director from Stackpole took the seat from Welsh Labour's Christine Gwyther with just a 98 vote majority after a recount, with only 250 votes separating the top three candidates. In last Thursday's National Assembly for Wales elections, Burns polled 8,590, while Gwyther, who has held the seat since the Assembly was set-up in 1999, took 8,492 votes. A close third was John Dixon (Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales) with 8,340, John Gossage (Welsh Liberal Democrat) was fourth with 1,806 and Pembrokeshire County Councillor, Malcolm Calver, of Manorbier (Independent), was fifth with 1,340. The turnout was 49.9 per cent. "I am thrilled to have won and would like to thank everyone who voted for me," Angela Burns told the Observer afterwards. "We almost doubled the Conservative vote in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, which shows that people decided it was time for a change. "I will bring a fresh approach to the problems and challenges facing our area and I want to reassure voters that I will represent all the electorate in Cardiff."
Mid and West Wales Electoral Region
Results for the Mid and West Wales Electoral Region were as follows: British National Party - 6,383. Welsh Conservatives - 49,606. Communist Party of Britain - 686. Christian Peoples Alliance - 413. Green Party - 8,768. Labour Party - 39,979. Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales - 67,258. Socialist Labour Party - 2,196. UK Independence Party - 3,191. Veritas - 502. Welsh Christian Party 'Proclaiming Christ's Lordship' - 493. Welsh Liberal Democrats - 28,790. Independent: Caroline Evans - 1,108. Independent: Gwynoro Jones - 1,598.