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.
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 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
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
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
Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 3
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Cwmamman
Hengoed
Hengoed 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Joseph Howells* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W. Edgar Lewis* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanboidy
Llandebie North
Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
D.B. Lewis* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Urban
Llandovery
Llandyssilio
Llanedy
Llanedy 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Thomas William Morgan* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanegwad
Llanelly Division.1
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 4
Llanelly Division 5
Boundary Change
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 9
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadog
Llangeler
Llangendeirne
Llangennech
Llangunnor
Llanon
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Myddfai
Pembrey
Boundary Change
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
St Clears
St Ishmaels
Trelech
Trimsaran
Boundary Change
Trimsaran 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Gomer Evans* |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Westfa
Whitland
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.
Bibliography
 Council elections in the preserved county of Dyfed |
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