Carmarthenshire County Council election, 1949

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An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1949. [1] It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed, by the 1952 election.

Contents

Overview of the result

After steadily increasing their representation throughout the inter-war period, the Labour Party finally won a majority on the Council, and strengthened their hold by taking nine of the ten vacancies on the aldermanic bench. Labour victories included taking a seat in the Borough of Carmarthen for the first time. Gwynfor Evans, President of Plaid Cymru, was returned for the Llangadog ward.

Gwynfor Evans Welsh politician

Gwynfor Richard Evans was a Welsh politician, lawyer and author. He was President of the Welsh political party Plaid Cymru for thirty six years and was the first Member of Parliament to represent it at Westminster, which he did twice, from 1966 to 1970, and again from 1974 to 1979.

Plaid Cymru is a social-democratic political party in Wales advocating Welsh independence from the United Kingdom within the European Union.

Llangadog village in United Kingdom

Llangadog is a village and community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales, which also includes the villages of Bethlehem and Capel Gwynfe. A notable local landscape feature is Y Garn Goch with two Iron Age hill forts.

Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

Unopposed returns

There were a number of unopposed returns, both in Labour held seats and in the western part of the county, which was described as still being 'traditionally Liberal in character'. [2]

Contested elections

While there were more unopposed returns than in 1946, many wards were keenly contested. Electioneering reached a peak in Llanelli where an Independent association was formed to fight the elections as a united front against Labour. However, Labour won all but two seats in Llanelli town.

Retiring aldermen faced the electorate for the first time since 1937. In Llangyndeyrn, Alderman Rev. James Jenkins, a member of the Council since 1925, was defeated by the retiring Labour councilor. However, Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw was one of only two Independent candidates to secure election in Llanelli.

Retiring aldermen

The aldermen who retired at the election were

Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 53 councillors were elected.

Carmarthesnhire County Council 1949: elected members
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru 1
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1949 : following election of new aldermen
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru 1
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1949 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru 1
  Independent

Ward results

Abergwili

Abergwili 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Col. Grismond P. Philipps* 631
Labour David John Evans 399
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Haydn Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ammanford No.2

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.2 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour John Harries* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Berwick

Berwick 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Thomas Sidney Bowen* 1,172
Independent William John Thomas 743
Independent Elvet Pugh 155
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Burry Port

Burry Port 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Edward Lewis* 1,525
Independent Archibald Edgar Morgan 714
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Caio

Caio 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Thomas Davies* 685
Independent Frank Wolsely Armitage 271
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour G.V. Davies 769
Independent William Jones* 736
Independent Labour D.W. Davies 49
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent J.O. Morgans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent J. Verdi Jenkins* 700
Labour W.D. Jones 575
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Cenarth

Cenarth 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent D.J. James Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent J.A. Owen* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Conwil

Conwil 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent W.A. Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour David Davies* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Hengoed

Hengoed 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour David John Stone* 1,312
Independent Sydney Phillip James 393
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1946
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J. Amos Jones* 869
Independent David Phillips 626
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Laugharne

Laugharne 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Rev. Chancellor S.B. Williams* 689
Labour W.J. John 497
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent William Joshua Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Evan Bevan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent William John Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent James Morgan Davies* 866
Labour E. Gwyn Williams 224
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery

Llandovery 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Anthony H. Gower* 564
Independent James James 412
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Hugh Davies unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy

Llanedy 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Thomas William Morgan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Griffith Evans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division.1

Llanelly Division.1 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Rev David Penry Jones* 1,016
Independent Henry Richards 764
Independent James Jones 222
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour William T. Griffiths* 976
Independent John Zammit 737
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Mrs Claudia R. Rees* 631
Independent David J. Edmunds 313
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* 1,115
Independent Sidney Ellis 955
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw** 530
Labour Ben Howells 403
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour W. Douglas Hughes* 815
Independent William Hughes 182
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 6 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J. Llewellyn Evans* 762
Independent Aneurin Thomas 462
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 7 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour George M. McConkey 868
Independent Fred Howells* 530
Communist Martin H. Thomas 17
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 8 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent A.H. Olive* 987
Labour John A. Palmer 803
Communist Brinley James 80
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent T.J. Williams* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent John Davies* 789
Independent William Harry 211
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llangadog

Llangadog 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Richard Evans unopposed
Plaid Cymru gain from Independent Swing

Llangeler

Llangeler 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Daniel Griffiths 908
Independent John Evans 812
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1946
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Rev R.G. James* 1,012
Independent Rev James Jenkins** unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangennech

Llangennech 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Thomas Bowen* 815
Independent John Rees 369
Independent Trefor Beasley 101
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent William Parry Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanon

Llanon 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Sidney Jones* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel

Llansawel 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Daniel Williams 317
Independent John Morgan* 275
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1946
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent T.Ll. Haries* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Benjamin Edward Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai

Myddfai 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Morgan Lewis Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey

Pembrey 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Simon John Elwyn Samuel* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour David John Jones* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour William Watkin Davies* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent David Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Clears

St Clears 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Joseph David Rees* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Trevor Rhys Morris* 685
Independent William Anthony 600
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Trelech

Trelech 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Simon Owen Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Labour Brinley Jenkins* unopposed
Independent Labour hold Swing

Westfa

Westfa 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Emrys Aubrey* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Whitland

Whitland 1946
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent William Hughes Mathias* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 57 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected.

By-elections

Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held. [3] In Llanelli, the Independents gained two seats but Labour won the seat vacated by Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw.

Berwick by-election

Berwick by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour William Isaac Daniel 921
Independent Labour Emrys Daniel Lewis 873
Independent Elvet Pugh 22
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly by-election

Kidwelly by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour J.H. Williams 999
Independent W.G. Gilbert 294
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanedy by-election

Llanedy by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Gwyn Howells unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2 by-election

Llanelly Division 2 by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent John Zammit 984
Labour T.M. Price 795
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanelly Division 5 by-election

Llanelly Division 5 by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Ben Howells 454
Independent Harry Richards 307
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 6 by-election

Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour W.J. Davies 666
Independent Harry Beaton 310
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7 by-election

Llanelly Division 7 by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Mrs Eleanor Thomas 616
Labour Miss Elsie Jones 590
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Pontyberem by-election

Pontyberem by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour John Williams unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Quarter Bach by-election

Quarter Bach by-election 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Josiah Jones 1,422
Independent Owen A. Jenkins 920
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Westfa by-election

Westfa 1949
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour W.J.F. Thomas 1,389
Independent Archibald Ivor Bailey 373
Majority
Labour hold Swing

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References

  1. ↑ "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 8 April 1949.
  2. ↑ "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 18 March 1949.
  3. ↑ "By-Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 27 May 1949.

Bibliography

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