 Despite neither being born in the Rhondda , the two most notable political figures to emerge from the area are William Abraham , known as Mabon , and George Thomas , Viscount Tonypandy . Abraham , best known as a trade unionist was the first Member of Parliament of the Rhondda and the leader of the South Wales Miners ' Federation . A strong negotiator in the early years of valleys ' unionism , as a moderate he lost ground to more radical leaders in his later years . Thomas was the born in Port Talbot but raised in Trealaw near Tonypandy . He was a Member of Parliament for Cardiff for 38 years and Speaker of the House of Commons ( 1976 – 1983 ) . On his retirement from politics he was made Viscount Tonypandy . 
