Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Cardiff Central.
A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review.
MP News Approval i
+61
Jo Stevens
Labour PartyThe Rt Hon Jo Stevens is the Labour MP for Cardiff East, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. She currently holds the Government post of Secretary of State for Wales.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Cardiff East has been predominantly positive for Jo across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Minister insists UK steel tariff plans are 'not very Donald Trump'” — Ayr Advertiser 📰
“Steel strategy announced to preserve production in the UK” — The Independent
Critical coverage
“I long for a break from Keir Starmer's bad gags” — The Spectator
Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Centred on Cardiff. Population 109,938, notably young (median age 34 vs 41 nationally).
Wages rise and energy bills fall as new measures take effect across Wales
wales247.co.uk · 1 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£27,600
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£35,500
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
3,035
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
45
0 primary, 0 secondary, 45 other
Total Income Tax▼
£229m
from 45,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,730
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£5,140
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
1 city, 1 village, rural areas — 108,003 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
23 councillors across 8 wards · Last elections: May 2022
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamsdown | Labour Party | Grace Ferguson-Thorne | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Owen Jones | May 2022 | |
| Cyncoed | Liberal Democrats | Bablin Molik | May 2022 |
| Liberal Democrats | Daniel Edward Waldron | May 2022 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Robert James Hopkins | May 2022 | |
| Llanrumney | Labour Party | Heather Christine Joyce | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Keith Phillip Jones | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Lee Bridgeman | May 2022 | |
| Pentwyn | Liberal Democrats | Dan Naughton | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Jess Moultrie | May 2022 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Joe Carter | May 2022 | |
| Penylan | Liberal Democrats | Jon Shimmin | May 2022 |
| Liberal Democrats | Muhammad Imran Latif | May 2022 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Rodney Berman | May 2022 | |
| Plasnewydd | Labour Party | Dan De'Ath | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Mary McGarry | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Pete Wong | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Sue Lent | May 2022 | |
| Rumney | Labour Party | Bob Derbyshire | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Jackie Parry | May 2022 | |
| Trowbridge | Labour Party | Bernie Bowen-Thomson | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Chris Lay | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Michael Michael | May 2022 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Lab | 15,833 | 40.5% |
| LD | 6,736 | 17.2% | |
| Ref | 4,980 | 12.7% | |
| Green | 3,916 | 10.0% | |
| Con | 3,913 | 10.0% | |
| PC | 3,550 | 9.1% | |
| Ind | 195 | 0.5% |
Jo Stevens appeared in 1 national article across 1 topic (8 Apr 2026 – 8 Apr 2026)
Positive (+0.60)Ranked #120 of 286 MPs mentioned in national coverage
Stevens receives positive credit for announcing a policy success with measurable crime reduction results in her jurisdiction.
New government measures taking effect on 1 April will lower energy bills by £117 and increase wages for the lowest-paid workers across Wales. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens highlights how these policies will help hundreds of thousands of Welsh people with the cost of living.
The UK Government announces multiple cost-of-living measures coming into force on April 1, including energy price cap cuts, wage increases for low earners, and winter fuel support. Cardiff East's MP Jo Stevens, as Secretary of State for Wales, highlights how hundreds of thousands of Welsh people will benefit from these measures.
A new memorandum of understanding between UK and Welsh governments will give Wales greater influence over cross-border railway services and improve rail connectivity. The agreement supports the launch of Great British Railways in 2027 and promises better integrated services, improved timetables, and bilingual travel information for Welsh passengers.
The UK Government and Associated British Ports have agreed to fund infrastructure development at Port Talbot to support floating offshore wind manufacturing and assembly for Celtic Sea projects. Secretary of State Jo Stevens visited the port to announce the deal, which is expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs and position South Wales as a centre for clean energy manufacturing.
Great British Railways and Transport for Wales have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly plan rail services, with bilingual information for passengers. The agreement aims to deliver quicker, more joined-up decisions and improved service reliability, backed by a £445 million commitment to build seven new stations across Wales.
The UK Government has announced 12 new Youth Hubs across Wales, including expansion of employment support services for young people aged 16-24. Jo Stevens, the Secretary of State for Wales and MP for Cardiff East, welcomed the announcement and highlighted the devolution of £20m in employment support funding to the Welsh Government.
A critical opinion piece about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's performance at PMQs, focusing on his evasiveness, poor decision-making, and weak jokes. The article specifically criticizes Jo Stevens, the MP for Cardiff East, for her performative laughter at one of Starmer's unfunny quips.
A new UK-Welsh government agreement on rail services establishes stronger Welsh input into railway decisions through Great British Railways, with commitments to bilingual information and £445 million in rail improvements across Wales. The agreement aims to deliver more reliable services, better cross-border connectivity, and support 12,000 jobs in Wales.
The UK and Welsh governments have agreed on a memorandum of understanding for Great British Railways, committing to £14 billion investment in Welsh rail infrastructure and services. The agreement aims to improve passenger experience, connectivity, and decision-making through closer coordination between governments, with £445 million allocated for new stations and upgrades.
The UK government has announced new trade measures to protect Welsh steel production, including a 60% reduction in steel imports and new tariffs from July, backed by £5.8bn investment through the National Wealth Fund. Welsh steel producers, including operations in Cardiff, Port Talbot, Shotton, Llanelli and Newport, are expected to account for half of future UK steelmaking, with Secretary of State Jo Stevens emphasizing the importance of Welsh steel to the South Wales economy and UK industrial strategy.
The Welsh Government has taken control of a £547 million Local Growth Fund to support economic growth across Wales over the next three years, with allocations focused on business productivity, skills development, and infrastructure across four Welsh regions. This post-EU funding deal, endorsed by both Welsh and UK governments, aims to create jobs and support areas with higher economic inactivity.
The UK Government announced a new Steel Strategy with £5.8bn additional funding for the National Wealth Fund, import quotas reduced by 60%, and a 50% tariff on steel imports above quota levels from July 2026. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens announced she will convene a new initiative to unlock investments into Welsh steel, building on over £600m already allocated to Port Talbot, protecting thousands of steelmaking jobs across Wales including operations in Cardiff.
The article highlights South Wales's critical role in the UK's defence semiconductor strategy, particularly through the CSconnected compound semiconductor cluster. It discusses how the government's Defence Industrial Strategy prioritizes compound semiconductors as essential for sovereign defence capability, with Wales positioned as the UK's leading hub for this technology, supported by the Wales Defence Growth Deal signed by Jo Stevens and other senior figures in February.
A WalesOnline feature follows South Wales Police during Super Saturday in Cardiff city centre following the Wales vs Italy Six Nations match, documenting police operations to manage 150,000 extra visitors and maintain safety, with a particular focus on violence against women and girls prevention through Operations Vigilant and Minerva.
Trains between Cardiff and Newport will cease operating for an entire weekend (March 20-22) to allow Network Rail to replace track sections and conduct essential upgrades on the South Wales Main Line. The disruption will affect multiple routes across South Wales, with replacement bus services running frequently, though long-distance and some regional services will be curtailed or rerouted.
The UK government is expanding early years childcare support for armed forces families in Wales from September 2026, expected to save families up to £6,000 per year per child. This brings Wales into line with England's existing scheme and is presented as part of broader support for military families.
A Welsh journalist and author argues that Welsh constituents should be 'apoplectic' about systemic disadvantages facing Wales compared to other UK nations, particularly regarding funding mechanisms, borrowing powers, and research investment. The piece illustrates how Westminster's fiscal framework treats Wales unfavorably relative to Scotland across multiple policy areas.
The UK Government is introducing a new childcare support scheme for defence families across Wales from September 2026, providing up to £6,000 annual savings per child. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens welcomed the initiative as supporting military families who contribute to Welsh economy and national security.
Cardiff volunteers are using red and pink bags to collect litter across the city, with over 13,954 bags collected in 2025. The article highlights the 'Love Where You Live' campaign and upcoming Spring Clean Cymru event (March 13-29), encouraging community participation in keeping Cardiff clean.
Cardiff Council's £35.2M Coastal Defence scheme at Rover Way is progressing to protect over 1,700 homes and key infrastructure in Cardiff Bay from coastal erosion and rising sea levels, with contractor Knights Brown implementing complex defences including rock armour and sheet piles to withstand climate change impacts.
The UK government has announced new tariff measures to boost domestic steel production, with plans to increase the proportion of UK-made steel from 30% to 50% and double import taxes on steel above quota levels from 25% to 50% from July. The strategy includes £2.5 billion in financing through the National Wealth Fund and is expected to significantly benefit Welsh steelmaking, particularly the Tata Steel plants at Port Talbot and Llanwern, protecting thousands of steelworking jobs in South Wales.
This article discusses the UK's Defence Industrial Strategy and highlights South Wales's compound semiconductor cluster as critical to achieving sovereign defence manufacturing resilience. It emphasizes how the region's integrated ecosystem of universities, research facilities, and manufacturers positions Wales to support both defence capabilities and economic growth through the Wales Defence Growth Deal signed by Defence Secretary John Healey, First Minister Eluned Morgan, and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens in February.
The Welsh Government has announced over £20.5 million in transport funding for Cardiff over three years (2026-29), with the first tranche of £5.7 million allocated for 2026-27. Key projects include sustainable travel corridors, bus priority measures, school safety schemes, and active travel infrastructure improvements across the city.
The Government announced a steel strategy aiming to increase UK steel production to 50% of domestic demand, with £2.5 billion in funding and import tariffs to protect the industry. Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, highlighted that Welsh steel will account for half of future UK steelmaking and backed the strategy as securing jobs in South Wales communities.
Property advisory firm JLL has been appointed to manage the sale and letting of remaining assets at Cardiff Gate Business Park, including 55,000 sq ft of office space and 20 acres of development land. The appointment reflects ongoing commercial activity and investment interest in this major business hub adjacent to Cardiff Gate Retail Park and Pontprennau.
BlueCastle Capital has secured planning consent for a 50-storey, 178-metre tower at Central Square near Cardiff Central Station, which will become Wales' tallest building. The development will deliver 528 build-to-rent apartments plus commercial space, with the developer indicating strong commitment to further projects in Cardiff.
The Welsh and UK Governments have resumed the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips Task Force to improve coal tip safety across Wales, with Jo Stevens (Secretary of State for Wales and MP for Cardiff East) announcing £143m UK funding alongside Welsh Government investment of over £110m. The initiative responds to ongoing concerns about disused mining tips and implements new regulatory frameworks to protect communities.
National Car Parks (NCP) has collapsed into administration with 682 jobs at risk across the UK and 23 locations in Wales potentially closing, including 10 car parks in Cardiff. The company attributes its failure to insufficient post-Covid customer recovery and inflexible long-term lease commitments.
Train services between Cardiff and Newport will be suspended from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22 for essential track upgrades on the South Wales Main Line and work near Cardiff Queen Street. Rail replacement buses will operate frequently, though significant disruption is expected for passengers, including those using longer-distance services and Valleys routes.
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