1946 Carmarthenshire County Council election
An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1946.[1] The 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War, therefore the election was preceded by the 1937 election and followed, by the 1949 election.
Overview of the result
The Independents retained their majority despite a strong Labour challenge, which saw an increase in the number of candidates contesting wards outside of the industrial south and east of the county. Retiring aldermen were also obliged to face the electorate before being re-elected to the bench.
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes.
Unopposed returns
There were a number of unopposed returns, notably in Labour-held seats.
Contested elections
Many wards were keenly contested following the reinstatement of electoral politics after nine years.
In the Llanelli and Ammanford areas, Labour won ground, particularly in Llanelli town where three wards were gained from the Independents. Labour also defeated the sitting Independent at Llangeler (a rural ward where the party had been successful once before largely due to the prevalence of the woolen industry). Labour also won the St Ishmaels ward for the first time.
Another feature was that long-serving aldermen faced the electorate. A notable contest took place in Cwmamman where Alderman John Phillips, a member of the Council since 1922 narrowly defeated the sitting Labour councillor David Davies. In Carmarthen Town, Alderman William Price Williams was defeated by the retiring Independent, as was Alderman Evan Harris at Llansawel.
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.
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Independent |
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Independent |
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Independent |
Ward results
Abergwili
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | G.P. Philipps | 667 | |||
Independent | D.J. Williams* | 351 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Ammanford No.1
Boundary Change.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Harries | unopposed | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Ammanford No.2
Boundary Change.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frank Davies* | 708 | |||
Independent | David Jones | 487 | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Berwick
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | T.S. Bowen* | 1,150 | |||
Independent Labour | Elvet Pugh | 396 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Burry Port
Boundary Change.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.D. Jenkins | 993 | |||
Independent | F.J. Morgan | 672 | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Caio
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Davies* | 486 | |||
Independent | Isaac Williams | 418 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 1
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Jones* | 701 | |||
Labour | J.E. Hughes | 625 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 2
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.O. Morgans* | 1,003 | |||
Labour | G.G. Richards | 461 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 3
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J. Ithel P. Thomas* | 516 | |||
Labour | W.C. Ferman | 482 | |||
Independent | William Price Williams** | 396 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cenarth
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.J. James Jones | 576 | |||
Independent | Ellenora James* | 313 | |||
Independent | J. Clement Davies | 278 | |||
Majority | 263 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cilycwm
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Conwil
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.A. Phillips | 523 | |||
Independent | E.J. Evans | 472 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cwmamman
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Phillips** | 1,091 | |||
Labour | David Davies* | 1,030 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Kidwelly
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Amos Jones | 708 | |||
Independent | H.J. Owen | 378 | |||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Laugharne
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | S.B. Williams* | 542 | |||
Independent | W.G. John | 404 | |||
Labour | H.G. Taylor | 203 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanarthney
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanboidy
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Benjamin Salmon* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandebie North
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David O. Davies | 702 | |||
Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | 666 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Llandebie South
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | D.B. Lewis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llandilo Rural
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Evan Davies* | 708 | |||
Independent | J.W. Nicholas | 660 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandilo Urban
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Benjamin Hughes* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandovery
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Anthony H. Gower | 485 | |||
Labour | James James | 307 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandyssilio
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Henry Morris* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanedy
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas William Morgan* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanegwad
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Griffith Evans* | 694 | |||
Independent | W.D. Davies | 352 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division.1
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | D. Penry Jones | 567 | |||
Communist | Enoch Collins | 245 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 2
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.T. Griffiths | 565 | |||
Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 486 | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 3
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | C.R. Rees | 600 | |||
Independent | James Jones* | 332 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 4
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | C. Hopkins | 997 | |||
Independent | Martin L. Edwards* | 612 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 5
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 666 | |||
Communist | E.F. Seaward | 25 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 6
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | unopposed | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 7
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans | unopposed | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 8
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Fred Howells | 642 | |||
Labour | A. Palmer | 532 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 9
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | A.H. Olive* | 843 | |||
Labour | J.M. Davies | 764 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | T.J. Williams | 680 | |||
Labour | Stephen Griffiths | 393 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Davies | 658 | |||
Independent | William Harry | 256 | |||
Independent | Thomas Richard Evans | 72 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangadog
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | T. Jones | 406 | |||
Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Evans | 405 | |||
Independent | W. Jones | 299 | |||
Majority | 1 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangeler
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | S.R. Thomas | 808 | |||
Independent | R.G. Owen* | 792 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llangendeirne
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangennech
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Bowen | 731 | |||
Independent | Luther Rolfe | 361 | |||
Independent Labour | S. Morlais J. Lloyd | 278 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llangunnor
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Edwards* | 513 | |||
Independent | W.P. Thomas | 482 | |||
Independent | David Jenkins | 186 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanon
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Jones | 1,629 | |||
Independent | Eva M. Harris | 661 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llansawel
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Morgan* | 282 | |||
Independent | Evan Harris** | 279 | |||
Majority | 3 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanstephan
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanybyther
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 877 | |||
Independent | Thomas Morgan | 574 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Myddfai
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.R. Clement* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Pembrey
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stepney | 799 | |||
Labour | J.J. Davies | 586 | |||
Independent win (new seat) |
Pontyberem
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David John Jones | unopposed | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Quarter Bach
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Watkin Davies | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Rhydcymmerai
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Thomas* | 320 | |||
Independent | T.H. Lewis | 217 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
St Clears
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Joseph David Rees* | 1,005 | |||
Independent | Buckley | 333 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
St Ishmaels
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris | 577 | |||
Independent | David Jones | 363 | |||
Independent | John W. Jones Cremlyn | 284 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Trelech
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | S.O. Thomas* | 741 | |||
Independent | Stephen Davies | 282 | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Trimsaran
Boundary Change
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gomer Evans* | unopposed | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
Westfa
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | 1,601 | |||
Independent | W.D. Ford | 626 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Whitland
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | 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 (with the number of votes in each case).
References
- "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 15 March 1946.