Denbighshire

Denbighshire is in the north of Wales, it runs as a long strip from the resort towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl in the north, through the Vale of Clwyd to the towns of Llangollen and Corwen in the south. The combination of seaside towns in the north and valleys and mountains in the south make this a popular tourist destination and the main industries are associated with holiday making. This area is politically mixed. No one party has control of the council; 20 councillors are Labour, 19 Independent, 7 Plaid Cymru, and 3 Liberal Democrats. Many of the Independents elected from rural areas will have Conservative sympathies. Denbighshire council serves areas that fall within the constituencies of Clwyd West and Clwyd South. Clwyd South has a low level of owner occupation and is a Labour seat. Clwyd West was a safe Conservative seat until the general election of 1997 when it was taken by Labour. 20.1% of the population of Clwyd West are self employed (the GB average is 11.2%), a characteristic of areas with a strong tourist industry.

Results of 1979 referendum:

		Yes		No		Turnout
All Wales		20%		80%		58.3%
Clywd		21%		79%		51.1%

Beaufort Research/Western Mail poll published on 2 July 1997:

		Agree		Disagree		Don't know
All Wales		43%		29%		28%
North Wales		42%		33%		29%