THE Monmouth constituency has swung between Labour and the Conservatives in recent General Elections.

Conservative David Davies beat Labour's incumbent Huw Edwards to become MP in 2005, but only after Mr Edwards held the seat for two terms between 1997 and 2001.

He also won the seat in 1991 in a by-election - only to lose it to Tory Roger Evans the following year.

Prior to the 1990s the seat was a Conservative stronghold, turning red for one term only in the 1960s.

A total of 77,409 people live in the area, with 63,091 able to vote in the constituency.

The district is predominantly rural, has a large tourist and food sector and covers much of area governed by Monmouthshire County Council, including the towns of Abergavenny, Monmouth, Chepstow and Usk, as well as the Torfaen districts of Croesyceiliog and Llanyrafon.

However Monmouthshire villages Magor, Undy and Rogiet and the town of Caldicot are not part of constituency, falling instead within the boundaries of Newport East.

2005 General Elelction result:

David Davies Conservative 21,396 46.9% Huw Edwards Labour 16,869 37.0% Phil Hobson - Liberal Democrat 5,852 12.8% Jonathan Clark - Plaid Cymru 993 2.2% John Bufton - UK Independence Party 543 1.2%