Created in 1983, Cardiff Central is geographically the smallest and most urban of all the Welsh constituencies. It also has the largest student population in Wales. In 1983 the seat was one of the great hopes of the Liberal/SDP Alliance, but candidate Michael German (now leader of the Liberal Democrat Group within the Welsh Assembly) finished second to the Conservatives. In 1992, Labour city councillor Jon Owen Jones won it with a majority of 8%, which he increased to 18.8% in 1997. However, unlike in 1992, it was now the Liberal Democrats and not the Conservatives who were in second position.

Initially, Owen Jones was seen as something of a rising star within the Welsh Labour party. He became Welsh whip and was then given a junior ministerial post at the Welsh Office. In 1999, however, with the arrival of the Welsh Assembly he was jettisoned from the government to return to the backbenches. Owen Jones's decline in personal fortune was mirrored by the decline of his own party's fortunes in Cardiff Central. The day of the 1997 Assembly referendum also saw what appeared to be an insignificant council by-election in Cardiff Central. Although Labour held the seat there was a 15% increase in the Liberal Democrat vote. Two years later there was to be an even greater swing to the Liberal Democrats in local council elections, but more importantly, they also won the Assembly seat. Labour's share of the vote fell from 43.7 to 30%, while that of the Liberal Democrats rose from 24.9 to 42.3%. The Liberal Democrats are now keenly working what, with the possible exception of Conwy, is their only realistic target in Wales. Their hopeful is Jenny Willott; Gregory Walker challenges for the Conservatives.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Labour majority 7,923 (18.8%)  Liberal Democrat target, Conservative target 191
MP Jon Owen Jones
1997 (Turnout 70.0%)
Labour	18,464	43.7%
Liberal Democrat	10,541	24.9%
Conservative	8,470	20.0%
Socialist Labour	2,230	5.3%
Plaid Cymru	1,504	3.6%
Referendum	760	1.8%
Others	284	0.7%

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For Cardiff Central 2001 Election result - click here.