Brecon and Radnorshire is the second largest constituency in the United Kingdom. It is mainly rural, containing farming areas and also the Brecon Beacons National Park. The county council, Powys, is run by Independents, and is one of the few county councils in Britain where there was less party competition for council seats in 1999 then there had been in 1973. There is an exception to this around the urban area of Ystradgynlais; this contains around 20% of the constituency's population, and also the majority of the Labour vote.

The current MP Richard Livsey briefly gained national fame for the SDP/Liberal Alliance when he won what had been a safe Conservative seat, in the 1985 by-election. For the next two general elections the seat remained one of the UK's most marginal. In 1987 Livsey retained it by just 56 votes. Then in 1992 Jonathan Evans took it back for the Conservatives by 130 votes. The last election, however, saw Livsey regain the seat with a 5,097 majority. Kirsty Williams won the seat for the Liberal Democrats again at the 1999 Assembly elections, with an increased majority. A month later at the European elections, the Conservatives topped the poll with 38% of the vote, although on a much smaller turnout.

Both parties will have fresh candidates in the next contest. Livsey is stepping down at the general election; Roger Williams a farmer and Powys councillor is seeking to fill his shoes. The former Conservative MP for the seat, Jonathan Evans is now a Welsh MEP and will not be standing again; he is replaced by Peter Gooderham. Both Labour and Plaid Cymru are likely to remain very much in the background.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Liberal Democrat majority 5,097 (11.9%)  Conservative target 97
MP Richard Livsey (retiring)
1997 (Turnout 82.2%)
Liberal Democrat	17,516	40.9%
Conservative	12,419	29.0%
Labour	11,424	26.6%
Referendum	900	2.1%
Plaid Cymru	622	1.5%

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For Brecon & Radnorshire 2001 Election result - click here.