Welsh local 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 as 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, and at 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.
Carmarthesnhire County Council 1955: elected members Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | | | | | | | | |
| Plaid Cymru | | | | | | | | |
| Independent | | | | | | | | |
Carmarthenshire County Council 1955 : following election of new aldermen Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | | | | | | | | |
| Plaid Cymru | | | | | | | | |
| Independent | | | | | | | | |
Carmarthenshire County Council 1955 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | | | | | | | | |
| Plaid Cymru | | | | | | | | |
| Independent | | | | | | | | |
Ward results
Abergwili
Abergwili 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | William John Phillips | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Ammanford No.1
Ammanford No.1 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Haydn Lewis* | 724 | | |
| Ratepayers | David Howard Cooke | 597 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Ammanford No.2
Ammanford No.2 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Plaid Cymru | David Samuel Gwynfor Evans | 715 | | |
| Labour | Thomas Elias Evans* | 684 | | |
| Plaid Cymru gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Berwick
Berwick 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Burry Port East
Burry Port East 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Edward Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Burry Port West
Burry Port West 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Labor Dennis* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Caio
Caio 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Thomas Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Division 1
Carmarthen Division 1 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | G.V. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 2 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | J.O. Morgans* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Carmarthen Division 3
Carmarthen Division 3 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | D. Denzil Harries | 962 | | |
| Labour | Ellis J. Powell | 531 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Cenarth
Cenarth 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | D.G. James Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Cilycwm
Cilycwm 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | D.I. Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Conwil
Conwil 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | W.A. Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Cwmamman
Cwmamman 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Felinfoel
Felinfoel 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Hengoed
Hengoed 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Edgar S. Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Kidwelly
Kidwelly 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | J. Amos Jones** | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Laugharne
Laugharne 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Tudor H. Fleming Williams | 768 | | |
| Independent | W.G. John* | 636 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | D.M. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanboidy
Llanboidy 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llandebie North
Llandebie North 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | William Morris* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Samuel Roberts* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Rural 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | David Marlais Humphreys* | 866 | | |
| Independent | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 468 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llandilo Urban
Llandilo Urban 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | James Morgan Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llandovery
Llandovery 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | William J. Davies* | | | |
| Independent | James James | 247 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llandyssilio
Llandyssilio 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | H.H. Harries* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanedy
Llanedy 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Gwyn Howells* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanegwad
Llanegwad 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Griffith Evans* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 1
Llanelly Division 1 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | John Zammit | 1,521 | | |
| Labour | Rev David Penry Jones* | 888 | | |
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 2 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | William T. Griffiths** | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 3 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 4 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 5 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Sidney Lewis* | 381 | | |
| Independent | William Gilbert Edmunds | 328 | | |
Majority | | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 6 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | William Douglas Hughes** | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 7 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans** | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 8 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | George M. McConkey | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 9
Llanelly Division 9 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Sidney Ivor Thomas* | 789 | | |
| Independent | Frederick Howells | 724 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel Aberbythych 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Thomas John Williams* | 620 | | |
| Labour | David Ivor James Evans | 528 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1955 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
Llangadog 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans* | 585 | | |
| Independent | William Jones | 484 | | |
| Plaid Cymru hold | Swing | | |
Llangeler
Llangeler 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | John Evans | unopposed | | |
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llangennech
Llangennech 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | John William Boyles* | 911 | | |
| Plaid Cymru | Trefor Beasley | 352 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | John Dobson Phelps | 916 | | |
| Independent | Thomas Griffiths | 155 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanon
Llanon 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Sidney Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llansawel
Llansawel 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | John Morgan | 312 | | |
| Independent | Daniel Williams* | 267 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanstephan
Llanstephan 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | J.H. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanybyther
Llanybyther 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | John Evans | 829 | | |
| Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 661 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Myddfai
Myddfai 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Pembrey
Pembrey 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Pontyberem
Pontyberem 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | David John Jones** | 1,895 | | |
| Plaid Cymru | David Eirwyn Morgan | 407 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Josiah Jones* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Rhydcymerau
Rhydcymerau 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | David Arthur Evans* | 362 | | |
| Independent | Vincent Roy James | 228 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
St Clears
St Clears 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | T.E. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
St Ishmaels
St Ishmaels 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Morgan Thomas Evans | 763 | | |
| Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris* | 689 | | |
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Trelech
Trelech 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Simon Owen Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Trimsaran
Trimsaran 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | 533 | | |
| Independent Labour | William Daniel Evans | 415 | | |
| Independent Labour | William Williams | 256 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Westfa
Westfa 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Emrys Aubrey** | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Whitland
Whitland 1955 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
Caio by-election 1955 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
Carmarthen Division 2 by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | David Mansel Thomas | 762 | | |
| Labour | John Brynmor Jones | 530 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llandeilo Urban by-election
Llandeilo Urban by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Marie Ann Lewis | 590 | | |
| Labour | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 358 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanegwad by-election
Llanegwad by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Thomas Llewellyn Griffiths | 534 | | |
| Independent | Henry Thomas | 501 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llanelly Division 6 by-election
Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | W.J. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election
Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | David Ivor James Evans | 638 | | |
| Labour | Thomas Peregrine | 438 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Llangadog by-election
Llangadog by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | David Thomas Williams | 561 | | |
| Independent | William Jones | 534 | | |
| Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing | | |
Trelech by-election
Trelech by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Stephen Davies | 377 | | |
| Independent | David Trevor Davies | 356 | | |
| Independent | John William Bowen | 286 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Westfa by-election
Westfa by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | W.J.F. Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Whitland by-election
Whitland by-election 1955 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | John Ivor Davies | 494 | | |
| Independent | William Sandbrook Cole | 492 | | |
| Independent | William Stephen Richards | 168 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
References
- ^ a b "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 8 April 1955.
- ^ a b "Independents Get Aldermanic Majority". Carmarthen Journal. 22 April 1955.
- ^ "County Council Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 25 March 1955.
- ^ "County Council by-elections". Carmarthen Journal. 24 June 1955.