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.

Carmarthesnhire County Council 1946: elected members
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1946 : following election of new aldermen
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1946 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Independent

Ward results

Abergwili
Abergwili 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent G.P. Philipps 667
Independent D.J. Williams* 351
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford No.1

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.1 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Harries unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Ammanford No.2

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.2 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Davies* 708
Independent David Jones 487
Labour win (new seat)

Berwick
Berwick 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T.S. Bowen* 1,150
Independent Labour Elvet Pugh 396
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Burry Port

Boundary Change.

Burry Port 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.D. Jenkins 993
Independent F.J. Morgan 672
Labour win (new seat)

Caio
Caio 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Davies* 486
Independent Isaac Williams 418
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 1
Carmarthen Division 1 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Jones* 701
Labour J.E. Hughes 625
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 2 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent J.O. Morgans* 1,003
Labour G.G. Richards 461
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 3
Carmarthen Division 3 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent J. Ithel P. Thomas* 516
Labour W.C. Ferman 482
Independent William Price Williams** 396
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Cenarth
Cenarth 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D.J. James Jones 576
Independent Ellenora James* 313
Independent J. Clement Davies 278
Majority 263
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm
Cilycwm 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Conwil
Conwil 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.A. Phillips 523
Independent E.J. Evans 472
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Cwmamman
Cwmamman 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Phillips** 1,091
Labour David Davies* 1,030
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Hengoed
Hengoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Howells* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly
Kidwelly 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Amos Jones 708
Independent H.J. Owen 378
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Laugharne
Laugharne 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent S.B. Williams* 542
Independent W.G. John 404
Labour H.G. Taylor 203
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanboidy
Llanboidy 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Salmon* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North
Llandebie North 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David O. Davies 702
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas* 666
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D.B. Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Rural 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Evan Davies* 708
Independent J.W. Nicholas 660
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban
Llandilo Urban 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Hughes* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery
Llandovery 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Anthony H. Gower 485
Labour James James 307
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio
Llandyssilio 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henry Morris* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy
Llanedy 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas William Morgan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad
Llanegwad 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Griffith Evans* 694
Independent W.D. Davies 352
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division.1
Llanelly Division.1 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D. Penry Jones 567
Communist Enoch Collins 245
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 2

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 2 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.T. Griffiths 565
Independent Brinley R. Jones* 486
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 3 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour C.R. Rees 600
Independent James Jones* 332
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 4 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour C. Hopkins 997
Independent Martin L. Edwards* 612
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 5

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 5 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gwen Trubshaw* 666
Communist E.F. Seaward 25
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 6

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 6 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Douglas Hughes* unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 7

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 6 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Llewellyn Evans unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 7 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Fred Howells 642
Labour A. Palmer 532
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 9
Llanelly Division 8 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent A.H. Olive* 843
Labour J.M. Davies 764
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent T.J. Williams 680
Labour Stephen Griffiths 393
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Davies 658
Independent William Harry 256
Independent Thomas Richard Evans 72
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llangadog
Llangadog 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent T. Jones 406
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 405
Independent W. Jones 299
Majority 1
Independent hold Swing

Llangeler
Llangeler 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour S.R. Thomas 808
Independent R.G. Owen* 792
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Jenkins* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangennech
Llangennech 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Bowen 731
Independent Luther Rolfe 361
Independent Labour S. Morlais J. Lloyd 278
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Edwards* 513
Independent W.P. Thomas 482
Independent David Jenkins 186
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanon
Llanon 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sidney Jones 1,629
Independent Eva M. Harris 661
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel
Llansawel 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Morgan* 282
Independent Evan Harris** 279
Majority 3
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan
Llanstephan 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent T.Ll. Haries* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther
Llanybyther 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Edward Davies* 877
Independent Thomas Morgan 574
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai
Myddfai 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.R. Clement* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey

Boundary Change

Pembrey 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Stepney 799
Labour J.J. Davies 586
Independent win (new seat)

Pontyberem

Boundary Change

Pontyberem 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David John Jones unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Watkin Davies unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai
Rhydcymmerai 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Thomas* 320
Independent T.H. Lewis 217
Majority
Independent hold Swing

St Clears
St Clears 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joseph David Rees* 1,005
Independent Buckley 333
Majority
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmaels
St Ishmaels 1946
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
Trelech 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent S.O. Thomas* 741
Independent Stephen Davies 282
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Trimsaran

Boundary Change

Trimsaran 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gomer Evans* unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Westfa
Westfa 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Emrys Aubrey* 1,601
Independent W.D. Ford 626
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Whitland
Whitland 1937
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
  1. "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 15 March 1946.
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