1955 Carmarthenshire County Council election
An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1955.[1] It was preceded by the 1952 election and followed, by the 1958 election.
Overview of the result
After six years under Labour control, the election produced a very close result with 29 Labour candidates, 28 Independents and 2 Plaid Cymru candidates being returned after the contested elections.[1] With the support of the two Plaid Cymru members, the Independents then proceeded to take seven of the eight aldermanic vacancies and to offer the other to the President of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans with the result that the Independent group regained control of the authority.[2]
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes at this election.
Retiring aldermen
The aldermen who retired at the election were ...
A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included the members for Kidwelly, Llanelly Division 2, 6 and 7, Pontyberem and Westfa. Four of these members would not be returned to the new council the aldermen were not re-elected. At Llansawel, Alderman David Thomas withdrew rather than face a contest.[3]
Unopposed returns
39 members were returned unopposed, an increase of five compared with 1955.
Contested elections
20 seats were contested. Labour defeats at St Ishmaels and one of the Llanelli wards, to Independents, andat Ammanford, to Plaid Cymru, led to their losing their majority of elected councillors.
A number of retiring aldermen stood as candidates and were returned unopposed.
Summary of results
This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 59 councillors were elected.
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Plaid Cymru | |||||||||
Independent |
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Plaid Cymru | |||||||||
Independent |
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||||||
Plaid Cymru | |||||||||
Independent |
Ward results
Abergwili
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William John Phillips | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Ammanford No.1
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Haydn Lewis* | 724 | |||
Ratepayers | David Howard Cooke | 597 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ammanford No.2
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plaid Cymru | David Samuel Gwynfor Evans | 715 | |||
Labour | Thomas Elias Evans* | 684 | |||
Plaid Cymru gain from Labour | Swing |
Berwick
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Burry Port East
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edward Lewis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Burry Port West
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Labor Dennis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Caio
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Davies* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | G.V. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 2
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.O. Morgans* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 3
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D. Denzil Harries | 962 | |||
Labour | Ellis J. Powell | 531 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cenarth
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.G. James Jones* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cilycwm
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.I. Lewis* | unoppposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Conwil
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.A. Phillips* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Cwmamman
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Felinfoel
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Hengoed
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edgar S. Samuel* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Kidwelly
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Amos Jones** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Laugharne
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Tudor H. Fleming Williams | 768 | |||
Independent | W.G. John* | 636 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanarthney
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | D.M. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanboidy
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandebie North
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Morris* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llandebie South
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Samuel Roberts* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llandilo Rural
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Marlais Humphreys* | 866 | |||
Independent | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 468 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandilo Urban
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | James Morgan Davies* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandovery
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William J. Davies* | ||||
Independent | James James | 247 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandyssilio
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | H.H. Harries* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanedy
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gwyn Howells* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanegwad
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Griffith Evans* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division.1
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Zammit | 1,521 | |||
Labour | Rev David Penry Jones* | 888 | |||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Llanelly Division 2
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William T. Griffiths** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 3
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 4
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 5
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Lewis* | 381 | |||
Independent | William Gilbert Edmunds | 328 | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 6
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Douglas Hughes** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 7
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 8
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George M. McConkey | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 9
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Ivor Thomas* | 789 | |||
Independent | Frederick Howells | 724 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas John Williams* | 620 | |||
Labour | David Ivor James Evans | 528 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Ivor Thomas Davies | 463 | |||
Independent | William Harry | 229 | |||
Independent | William Morgan Davies | 227 | |||
Independent | Evan Philip Richards | 175 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangadog
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans* | 585 | |||
Independent | William Jones | 484 | |||
Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |
Llangeler
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Evans | unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Llangendeirne
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llangennech
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John William Boyles* | 911 | |||
Plaid Cymru | Trefor Beasley | 352 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llangunnor
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Dobson Phelps | 916 | |||
Independent | Thomas Griffiths | 155 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanon
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sidney Jones* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llansawel
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Morgan | 312 | |||
Independent | Daniel Williams* | 267 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanstephan
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.H. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanybyther
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Evans | 829 | |||
Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 661 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Myddfai
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Pembrey
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontyberem
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David John Jones** | 1,895 | |||
Plaid Cymru | David Eirwyn Morgan | 407 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Quarter Bach
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Josiah Jones* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Rhydcymerau
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Arthur Evans* | 362 | |||
Independent | Vincent Roy James | 228 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
St Clears
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | T.E. Williams* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
St Ishmaels
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Morgan Thomas Evans | 763 | |||
Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris* | 689 | |||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Trelech
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Simon Owen Thomas* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Trimsaran
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | 533 | |||
Independent Labour | William Daniel Evans | 415 | |||
Independent Labour | William Williams | 256 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Westfa
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Emrys Aubrey** | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Whitland
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Hughes Mathias* | unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Election of aldermen
In addition to the 59 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, seven of the ten aldermanic vacancies were taken by the Independents and an eighth by Gwynfor Evans of Plaid Cymru, whose two representatives aligned with the Independents to guarantee their majority.[2]
- J.M. Davies, Independent
- Thomas Davies, Independent
- Griffith Evans, Independent
- Gwynfor R. Evans, Plaid Cymru
- W.H. Mathias, Independent
- J.O. Morgans, Independent
- S.O. Thomas, Independent
- T.J. Williams, Independent
- Emrys Aubrey, Labour
- W. Douglas Hughes, Labour
By-elections
Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.[4]
Caio by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Rees Griffiths | 302 | |||
Independent | Thomas Davies | 301 | |||
Labour | David John Jenkins | 245 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Division 2 by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Mansel Thomas | 762 | |||
Labour | John Brynmor Jones | 530 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandeilo Urban by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Marie Ann Lewis | 590 | |||
Labour | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 358 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanegwad by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Llewellyn Griffiths | 534 | |||
Independent | Henry Thomas | 501 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 6 by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.J. Davies* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Ivor James Evans | 638 | |||
Labour | Thomas Peregrine | 438 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llangadog by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David Thomas Williams | 561 | |||
Independent | William Jones | 534 | |||
Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing |
Trelech by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stephen Davies | 377 | |||
Independent | David Trevor Davies | 356 | |||
Independent | John William Bowen | 286 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Westfa by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.J.F. Thomas* | unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Whitland by-election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | John Ivor Davies | 494 | |||
Independent | William Sandbrook Cole | 492 | |||
Independent | William Stephen Richards | 168 | |||
Independent hold | Swing |