Lab held for 5 consecutive elections.
Alex Barros-Curtis
Labour PartyMr Alex Barros-Curtis is the Labour MP for Cardiff West, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
A vote on whether to allow a Bill to be introduced that would replace the current first-past-the-post voting system with proportional representation (specifically single transferable vote) for UK parliamentary and English local government elections. The Bill was proposed by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney, arguing the current system produces large parliamentary majorities on small vote shares.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Cardiff West has been mixed for Alex across 40 recent articles.
Critical coverage
“The resurrection of the M4 relief road. But there are also big questions” — WalesOnline
Represented by Lab since 2024. Covers Cardiff, Pontyclun and Creigiau. Population 106,531.
Encampment surrounded by litter returns to Cardiff city centre
WalesOnline · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£29,000
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£37,700
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
2,945
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
47
0 primary, 0 secondary, 47 other
Total Income Tax▼
£287m
from 50,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,980
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£5,710
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 town, 5 villages, rural areas — 102,076 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 10 wards · Last elections: May 2022
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caerau | Labour Party | Elaine Alison Simmons | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Peter Evan Bradbury | May 2022 | |
| Canton | Labour Party | Jasmin Chowdhury | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Stephen Cunnah | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Susan Elsmore | May 2022 | |
| Ely | Labour Party | Irene May Humphreys | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Maliika Kaaba | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Russell Vivian Goodway | May 2022 | |
| Fairwater | Labour Party | Claudia Boes | May 2022 |
| Propel | Neil John McEvoy | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Saleh Ahmed | May 2022 | |
| Llandaff | Labour Party | Peter Huw Jenkins | May 2022 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Sean Driscoll | May 2022 | |
| Pentyrch St Fagans | Plaid Cymru, Green Party, Common Ground | Andrea Emily Gibson | May 2022 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Catriona Brown-Reckless | May 2022 | |
| Plaid Cymru, Green Party, Common Ground | Rhys Owain Livesy | May 2022 | |
| Pontyclun Central | Labour Party | Martin Douglas Ashford | May 2022 |
| Pontyclun East | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Paul Binning | May 2022 |
| Radyr | Conservative and Unionist Party | Calum Davies | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Helen Lloyd Jones | May 2022 | |
| Riverside | Labour Party | Caro William Wild | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Kanaya Singh | May 2022 | |
| Labour Party | Leonora Hope Thomson | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 16,442 | 36.7% | |
| PC | 9,423 | 21.1% | |
| Con | 6,835 | 15.3% | |
| Ref | 5,626 | 12.6% | |
| Green | 3,157 | 7.0% | |
| LD | 1,921 | 4.3% | |
| Ind | 1,041 | 2.3% | |
| Ind | 241 | 0.5% | |
| Ind | 71 | 0.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | Lab | 23,908 | 51.8% |
| Con | 12,922 | 28.0% | |
| PC | 3,864 | 8.4% | |
| LD | 2,731 | 5.9% | |
| Ind | 1,619 | 3.5% | |
| Green | 1,133 | 2.5% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | Lab | 26,425 | 56.7% |
| Con | 13,874 | 29.8% | |
| PC | 4,418 | 9.5% | |
| LD | 1,214 | 2.6% | |
| Ind | 698 | 1.5% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2010 GE | Lab | 17,803 | 40.6% |
| Con | 11,014 | 25.1% | |
| PC | 6,096 | 13.9% | |
| Ind | 4,923 | 11.2% | |
| LD | 2,069 | 4.7% | |
| Green | 1,704 | 3.9% | |
| Ind | 183 | 0.4% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Lab | 16,894 | 41.3% |
| Con | 12,143 | 29.6% | |
| LD | 7,186 | 17.5% | |
| PC | 2,868 | 7.0% | |
| Ind | 1,117 | 2.7% | |
| Green | 750 | 1.8% |
Alex Barros-Curtis has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
16 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
An encampment has returned to the Taffs Mead Embankment area in Cardiff city centre, less than a year after a previous one was cleared. Residents report concerns about litter, anti-social behaviour, and public safety, with Cardiff Council and South Wales Police working to address the situation through outreach and support services.
A highly-rated steakhouse, Mugshot, has suddenly closed its Cardiff city centre location after less than 18 months of operation, despite positive reviews and recent social media promotion. The closure represents a loss of a well-regarded dining establishment in Cardiff's food scene.
St David's Centre in Cardiff hosted a public engagement initiative on equality, inclusion, and belonging, capturing perspectives from diverse audiences ahead of the Mastering Diversity Conference 2026. The initiative found that Cardiff is widely perceived as a city where people feel they belong, though continued action on equality remains expected.
Cardiff University's Formula Student racing team, supported by Cummins Inc., will compete at Silverstone in July 2026 with their first fully electric single-seat race car. The partnership between Cummins and Cardiff University, spanning 20+ years, provides funding, facilities, and industry expertise to develop engineering talent and career opportunities for students.
The article examines the M4 relief road debate around Newport, which Mark Drakeford (former Cardiff West MS and First Minister) cancelled in 2019 for £1.6bn. With the election approaching, Reform, Conservatives, and potentially Plaid Cymru are reviving support for the project, despite decades of failed attempts dating back to the 1980s.
Cardiff Council has generated nearly £500,000 from penalty charge notices in Llandaff over three years, with yellow box junction fines rising 77% in 2025. The article highlights driver frustration over the enforcement regime and questions from local councillor Sean Driscoll about how revenue is being spent locally and the removal of free parking.
Cardiff's new bike hangar scheme, which launched with 17 installations across residential areas in March 2024, is facing criticism for charging £120 per year—the highest fee in the UK—making it unaffordable for low-income cyclists. Cycling campaigner Chris Roberts argues the pricing is 'anti-cycling' and contradicts the council's goal to encourage cycling, particularly in less affluent neighbourhoods where residents lack driveways.
A Cardiff University Master's student reports applying to over 300 jobs with only three interviews, highlighting the severe challenges facing graduates in the UK job market. The article discusses broader employment difficulties for young people, including competition, AI filtering, and a lack of available positions across sectors.
ffeibr has extended its next-generation full-fibre network into Cardiff's city centre and Cardiff Bay, improving digital connectivity across the region. The expansion aims to unlock economic opportunities and strengthen digital infrastructure links between the Valleys and the capital.
Cardiff Metropolitan University has secured £18 million in Welsh Government funding to accelerate its net zero campus plans, bringing total Digarbon support to £24.2 million. The investment will fund low carbon heating systems, solar generation, energy efficient lighting, and building upgrades across the university's estate, building on the success of its 'Halve the Half' initiative which achieved a 33% reduction in gas use and saved £1.8 million in two years.
Italian restaurant chain Bosco has opened its first Welsh venue in Cardiff city centre with support from the Investment Fund for Wales, and plans to expand to additional Welsh locations over the next 18 months. The £350,000 loan has enabled the business to refit premises on High Street and secure additional private investment.
Police have released three suspects (two adults and a child from Birmingham) on bail following an investigation into bomb and weapons threats made against three Cardiff secondary schools in March, which led to temporary closures of Llanishen High and Eastern High. The threats were made online and referenced explosive devices, firearms and knife attacks.
Gwenllian Bullock, a 100-year-old woman born in Penarth, Cardiff, celebrated her milestone birthday with family in Oxfordshire. The article highlights her remarkable life story, including her wartime experiences in Cardiff, her meeting with her husband during WWII, and her vivid memories of the city during bombing raids.
A business connectivity expert discusses how Cardiff's new hypercity fibre network is transforming digital infrastructure for local SMEs, enabling better broadband access at affordable costs compared to previous expensive leased-line options. The article highlights how improved connectivity supports business expansion, technology adoption, and premises decisions across South Wales.
Residents in Cathays, Cardiff are complaining that the council's new waste management system with multiple bins is leaving pavements constantly cluttered with containers left outside homes. The issue is attracting rodents and birds, with residents calling for better coordination between council enforcement and resident responsibility.
Plaid Cymru candidate Neil Roberts stood down from the Caerdydd Penarth constituency (which includes Cardiff West) after an offensive tweet from 2021 resurfaced during the 2026 Welsh Parliament election campaign. The incident is part of broader scrutiny on social media conduct by Senedd candidates and follows a similar controversy involving another Plaid candidate.
Cardiff Council's Blackweir Live 2025 concert series generated £604,631 in revenue from events held in Blackweir Fields and Cardiff Castle, though the council initially refused to disclose this figure. The concerts were controversial due to concerns about wildlife impact and park access, with the 2025 events exceeding permitted days; the council is now seeking planning permission for the 2026 return.
Cardiff Airport has gained viral attention on social media for being exceptionally quiet and stress-free compared to larger UK airports, with travellers praising its lack of queues and peaceful atmosphere. The positive word-of-mouth from tourists experiencing minimal delays and a laid-back environment is attracting interest from other passengers seeking a less stressful travel experience.
A French court rejected Cardiff City's £100 million compensation claim against Nantes for Emiliano Sala's 2019 death, ordering Cardiff to pay £400,000 in legal fees instead. The article criticizes Cardiff's relentless pursuit of compensation and argues the real scandal is football's failure to address player welfare and the uncontrolled trading of players between clubs.
Article lists the cheapest petrol and diesel prices across Cardiff petrol stations, with Tesco in Gabalfa offering the lowest petrol at 144.9p per litre. It also highlights a £5 cashback offer from TopCashback on fuel purchases across multiple brands.
Welsh Labour has launched its Senedd election manifesto, featuring a £4bn commitment for new hospitals including one in Cardiff, alongside promises for 48-hour primary care access. The article notes significant caveats about the practicality and timeline of these promises, and highlights existing NHS repair backlogs and unmet needs for non-urgent care.
This article explores the ambitious but ultimately abandoned Centreplan 70 proposals from the 1960s-70s that would have dramatically demolished and reconstructed much of Cardiff city centre, including 1,500 homes, with modernist towers, car parks, and infrastructure designed around car ownership. The piece reflects on why these radical plans never materialised and how they contrast with actual developments like St David's Hall and current projects like the metro and new arena.
Cardiff residents are expressing frustration over the state of the capital's roads despite Cardiff Council significantly increasing spending on repairs in 2025 to over £5.7m. Multiple residents report widespread potholes and road deterioration affecting daily travel, though the council attributes challenges to heavy rainfall and a national repair backlog.
A beer bike company operating in Cardiff has been granted an alcohol storage licence in Bath, despite police concerns that this represents a deliberate attempt to circumvent local licensing oversight. South Wales Police raised significant concerns about public nuisance, underage drinking risks, and the company's failure to engage with Cardiff authorities, but ultimately supported the licence with 31 conditions.
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