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David Rowlands (politician)

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David Rowlands
Member of the Senedd
for South Wales East
In office
5 May 2016 – 29 April 2021
Preceded byLindsay Whittle
Succeeded byPeredur Owen Griffiths
Personal details
BornApril 1948 (age 76)[1]
Argoed, Caerphilly, Wales
Political partyReform UK (2019–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent Alliance for Reform (2020–2021)
UKIP (1998–2019)

David John Rowlands (born April 1948) is a former Welsh politician who was a Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales East from 2016 to 2021.[2] Elected as an MS for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Rowlands joined the Brexit Party in 2019. He later joined the Independent Alliance for Reform group in the Senedd in October 2020.

Biography

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Born in the Welsh mining town of Argoed, he was educated at Pontllanfraith Grammar School obtaining A Levels in economics and geography before studying for a degree in business studies.[3] Rowlands joined UKIP in 1998.

Political Career

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In the 2001 general election, Rowlands stood as the UKIP candidate for Montgomeryshire.[4]

He contested New Inn ward in Torfaen in the 2004 Welsh local election, where he won 811 votes.[5]

In the 2015 UK General election, Rowlands stood as the UKIP candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. He came second to Labour's Gerald Jones, with 18.7%, retaining his deposit.[6]

Rowlands re-contested Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney at the 2017 general election, finishing fourth, and taking 1,484 votes (4.4%).[7][8]

Senedd career

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At the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election, Rowlands finished second in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, receiving 4,277 votes (21%).[9][10]He was first on UKIP's list in the South Wales east region, and was appointed as an additional member.[11][12]

Resignation from UKIP

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In May 2019, he resigned from UKIP to join the newly-formed Brexit Party.[13] In the same month as his defection, Rowlands caused controversy by calling far-right activist Tommy Robinson a "courageous character". The Brexit Party distanced themselves from the remarks, saying that Rowlands' views did not "in any way" reflect the party's position. [14]

In mid October 2020, he formed a new group in the Senedd, the Independent Alliance for Reform, together with fellow MSs Mandy Jones and Caroline Jones.[15]

At the 2021 Senedd election, Rowlands sought re-election as a Reform UK candidate, taking just 328 votes (1.4%) in Newport East.[16][17]He was also the third-placed Reform UK candidate on the regional list, though neither he nor his party were successful.[18][19][20][21]Similarly, UKIP failed to return any of their candidates, with most of Rowlands’ Senedd colleagues having stood unsuccessfully for other parties.[22][23][24]

Electoral History

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Westminster Parliament elections

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % of votes Result
2017 election Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney UKIP 1,484 4.4 Not elected
2015 election Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney UKIP 6,106 18.7 Not elected
2010 election Newport East UKIP 677 2.0 Not elected
2001 election Montgomeryshire UKIP 786 2.7 Not elected

European Parliament elections

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % of votes Result
European Election 2014 Wales (4th on list) UKIP 201,983 27.55 Not elected
European Election 2009 Wales (4th on list) UKIP 87,585 12.8 Not elected
European Election 2004 Wales (1st on list) UKIP 96,677 10.5 Not elected

Welsh Assembly elections (Constituency Seats)

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % of votes Result
2021 Senedd election Newport East Reform 328 1.4 Not elected
Assembly election 2016 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney UKIP 4,277 20.7 Not elected
Assembly election 2003 Torfaen UKIP 1,377 7.0 Not elected

Welsh Assembly elections (Regional Seats)

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % of votes Result
2021 Senedd election South Wales East (3rd on list) Reform 2,756 1.3 Not elected
Assembly election 2016 South Wales East (1st on list) UKIP 34,524 17.8 Elected
Assembly election 2011 South Wales East (2nd on list) UKIP 9,526 5.3 Not elected
Assembly election 2007 South Wales East (1st on list) UKIP 8,725 4.6 Not elected
Assembly election 2003 South Wales East (1st on list) UKIP 5,949 3.5 Not elected

References

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Wikiquote has quotations related to David Rowlands.
  1. ^ "David John ROWLANDS personal appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Welsh Election 2016: Labour just short as UKIP wins seats". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  3. ^ "David Rowlands". UKIP Wales. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  4. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Montgomeryshire". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Torfaen County Borough Council Election Results 1995-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney". BBC News. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Election result for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Election results for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, 8 June 2017". Merthyr Tydfil Council. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Election results for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, 6 May 2016". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Election results for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, 5 May 2016". Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Election results for South Wales East, 6 May 2016". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  12. ^ "South Wales East - Welsh Assembly electoral region". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Assembly members join forces with Farage". BBC News. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  14. ^ "New Brexit Party AM calls Tommy Robinson courageous". BBC News. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Brexit Party members of Welsh Parliament join new Senedd group". BBC News. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Election results for Newport East, 6 May 2021". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Newport East - Welsh Parliament constituency - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Senedd Election 2021: All the candidates in South Wales East". South Wales Argus. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Senedd Cymru elections (Regions):The 60 candidates in South Wales East". Who Can I Vote For?. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  20. ^ "Election results for South Wales East, 6 May 2021". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  21. ^ "South Wales East - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  22. ^ "Anti-Senedd parties' vote collapsed at May's election despite doubling spend on campaigning, figures reveal". Nation Cymru. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Election results by party, 6 May 2021". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  24. ^ "Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament elections 2021" (PDF). UK Parliament. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
Senedd
Preceded by Member of the Senedd for South Wales East
2016 – 2021 		Succeeded by
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