1949 Carmarthenshire County Council election

Welsh local election April 2022 An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held on 5 April 1949. County Council Elections Carmarthen Journal 8 April 1949 It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed, by the 1952 election. Overview of the result After steadily increasing their representation throughout the inter-war period, the Labour Party finally won a majority on the Council, and strengthened their hold by taking nine of the ten vacancies on the aldermanic bench. Labour victories included taking a seat in the Borough of Carmarthen for the first time. Boundary changes There were no boundary changes. Candidates There were a number of unopposed returns, both in Labour held seats and in the western part of the county, which was described as still being 'traditionally Liberal in character'. County Council Elections Carmarthen Journal 18 March 1949 Gwynfor Evans, President of Plaid Cymru, was returned for the Llangadog ward, having been defeated by one vote in 1946. This was the second election held since a new ruling requiring retiring aldermen to face the electorate was introduced. Much attention focused on the contest in the Llangendeirne ward where Alderman James Jenkins, leader of the Independent group, faced the sitting Labour member, the Rev. R.G. James. In Llanelli, Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, a member of the council since 1919, faced Labour opposition. Her fellow Independent, Daniel Roberts, retired and the decision of two Independent candidates to contest Ward One was described as 'unfortunate'.County Council Elections (editorial) https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004711/19490326/004/0004 19 February 2025 Llanelly Star 26 March 1949 4 Three other Independent aldermen stood down. At Llanarthney, David Stephens, who had last contested an election in 1931, did not challenge Labour member Edgar Lewis who was returned unopposed. David Davies (Abergwili) and Lewis Bowen (Trelech) chose not to opposed the sitting Independents in their former wards.County Council Candidates. 26 Contests in Carmarthenshire. Socialists v Independents. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004015/19490325/005/0005?browse=False 19 February 2025 Welshman 25 March 1949 5 Outcome While there were more unopposed returns than in 1946, many wards were keenly contested and the result was a narrow Labour majority amongst the elected members. Electioneering reached a peak in Llanelli where an Independent association was formed to fight the elections as a united front against Labour. However, Labour won all but two seats in Llanelli town. The exceptions were Ward One, where the intervention of former councillor James Jones split the Independent vote and Ward Five, where Dame Gwendolone Trubshaw withstood a Labour challenge. Retiring aldermen faced the electorate for the first time since 1937. In Llangyndeyrn, Alderman Rev. James Jenkins, a member of the Council since 1925, was defeated by the retiring Labour councillor. In Carmarthen, George V. Davies, a former borough councillor, narrowly defeated 82 year-old William Jones to secure the first Labour victory in the town.County Council Elections. Socialists Gain Two Seats and Independents One. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004015/19490408/001/0001 19 February 2025 Welshman 8 April 1949 1 Ward results Abergwili Abergwili 1949 Independent (politician) Col. Grismond P. Philipps* 631 Labour Party (UK) David John Evans 399 Independent (politician) Ammanford No.1 Ammanford No.1 1949 Labour Party (UK) Haydn Lewis* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Ammanford No.2 Boundary Change. Ammanford No.2 1949 Labour Party (UK) John Harries* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Berwick Berwick 1949 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Sidney Bowen* 1,172 Independent (politician) William John Thomas 743 Independent (politician) Elvet Pugh 155 Labour Party (UK) Burry Port Burry Port 1949 Labour Party (UK) Edward Lewis* 1,525 Independent (politician) Archibald Edgar Morgan 714 Labour Party (UK) Caio Caio 1949 Independent (politician) Thomas Davies* 685 Independent (politician) Frank Wolsely Armitage 271 Independent (politician) Carmarthen Division 1 Carmarthen Division 1 1949 Labour Party (UK) George V. Davies 769 Independent (politician) William Jones* 736 Independent Labour D.W. Davies 49 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Carmarthen Division 2 Carmarthen Division 2 1949 Independent (politician) J.O. Morgans* unopposed Independent (politician) Carmarthen Division 3 Carmarthen Division 3 1949 Independent (politician) J. Verdi Jenkins* 700 Labour Party (UK) W.D. Jones 575 Independent (politician) Cenarth Cenarth 1949 Independent (politician) D.J. James Jones* unopposed Independent (politician) Cilycwm Cilycwm 1949 Independent (politician) J.A. Owen* unopposed Independent (politician) Conwil Conwil 1949 Independent (politician) William Howell Phillips* unopposed Independent (politician) Cwmamman Cwmamman 1949 Labour Party (UK) David Davies* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Hengoed Hengoed 1949 Labour Party (UK) David John Stone* 1,312 Independent (politician) Sydney Phillip James 393 Labour Party (UK) Kidwelly Kidwelly 1946 Labour Party (UK) J. Amos Jones* 869 Independent (politician) David Phillips 626 Labour Party (UK) Laugharne Laugharne 1949 Independent (politician) Rev. Chancellor S.B. Williams* 689 Labour Party (UK) W.J. John 497 Independent (politician) Llanarthney Llanarthney 1949 Labour Party (UK) W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanboidy Llanboidy 1949 Independent (politician) William Joshua Phillips* unopposed Independent (politician) Llandebie North Llandebie North 1949 Labour Party (UK) Gwilym R. Thomas* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llandebie South Llandebie South 1949 Labour Party (UK) Evan Bevan* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llandilo Rural Llandilo Rural 1949 Independent (politician) William John Thomas* unopposed Independent (politician) Llandilo Urban Llandilo Urban 1949 Independent (politician) James Morgan Davies* 866 Labour Party (UK) E. Gwyn Williams 224 Independent (politician) Llandovery Llandovery 1949 Independent (politician) Anthony H. Gower* 564 Independent (politician) James James 412 Independent (politician) Llandyssilio Llandyssilio 1949 Independent (politician) Hugh Davies unopposed Independent (politician) Llanedy Llanedy 1949 Labour Party (UK) Thomas William Morgan* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanegwad Llanegwad 1949 Independent (politician) Griffith Evans* unopposed Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 1 Llanelly Division 1 1949 Labour Party (UK) Rev David Penry Jones* 1,016 Independent (politician) Henry Richards 764 Independent (politician) James Jones 222 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 2 Llanelly Division 2 1949 Labour Party (UK) William T. Griffiths* 976 Independent (politician) John Zammit 737 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 3 Llanelly Division 3 1949 Labour Party (UK) Mrs Claudia R. Rees* 631 Independent (politician) David J. Edmunds 313 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 4 Llanelly Division 4 1949 Labour Party (UK) Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* 1,115 Independent (politician) Sidney Ellis 955 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 5 Llanelly Division 5 1949 Independent (politician) Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw** 530 Labour Party (UK) Ben Howells 403 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 6 Llanelly Division 6 1949 Labour Party (UK) W. Douglas Hughes* 815 Independent (politician) William Hughes 182 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 7 Llanelly Division 7 1949 Labour Party (UK) J. Llewellyn Evans* 762 Independent (politician) Aneurin Thomas 462 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 8 Llanelly Division 8 1949 Labour Party (UK) George M. McConkey 868 Independent (politician) Fred Howells* 530 Communist Party (UK) Martin H. Thomas 17 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 9 Llanelly Division 9 1949 Independent (politician) A.H. Olive* 987 Labour Party (UK) John A. Palmer 803 Communist Party (UK) Brinley James 80 Independent (politician) Llanfihangel Aberbythick Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1949 Independent (politician) T.J. Williams* unopposed Independent (politician) Llanfihangel-ar-Arth Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1949 Independent (politician) John Davies* 789 Independent (politician) William Harry 211 Independent (politician) Llangadog Llangadog 1949 Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Richard Evans Unopposed N/A N/A Plaid Cymru Independent (politician) Llangeler Llangeler 1949 Labour Party (UK) Daniel Griffiths 908 Independent (politician) John Evans 812 Labour Party (UK) Llangendeirne Llangendeirne 1946 Labour Party (UK) Rev R.G. James* 1,012 Independent (politician) Rev James Jenkins** 666 Labour Party (UK) Llangennech Llangennech 1949 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Bowen* 815 Independent (politician) John Rees 369 Independent (politician) Trefor Beasley 101 Labour Party (UK) Llangunnor Llangunnor 1949 Independent (politician) William Parry Thomas* unopposed Independent (politician) Llanon Llanon 1949 Labour Party (UK) Sidney Jones* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llansawel Llansawel 1949 Independent (politician) Daniel Williams 317 Independent (politician) John Morgan* 275 Independent (politician) Llanstephan Llanstephan 1949 Independent (politician) T.Ll. Haries** unopposed Independent (politician) Llanybyther Llanybyther 1949 Independent (politician) Benjamin Edward Davies* unopposed Independent (politician) Myddfai Myddfai 1949 Independent (politician) Morgan Lewis Jones* unopposed Independent (politician) Pembrey Pembrey 1949 Labour Party (UK) Simon John Elwyn Samuel* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Pontyberem Pontyberem 1949 Labour Party (UK) David John Jones* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Quarter Bach Quarter Bach 1949 Labour Party (UK) William Watkin Davies* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Rhydcymmerau Rhydcymmerau 1949 Independent (politician) David Thomas* unopposed Independent (politician) St Clears St Clears 1949 Independent (politician) Joseph David Rees** unopposed Independent (politician) St Ishmaels St Ishmaels 1949 Labour Party (UK) Trevor Rhys Morris* 685 Independent (politician) William Anthony 600 Labour Party (UK) Trelech Trelech 1949 Independent (politician) Simon Owen Thomas* unopposed Independent (politician) Trimsaran Trimsaran 1949 Independent Labour Brinley Jenkins* unopposed Independent Labour Westfa Westfa 1949 Labour Party (UK) Emrys Aubrey* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Whitland Whitland 1946 Independent (politician) William Hughes Mathias* unopposed Independent (politician) 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. W. Douglas Hughes, Labour Emrys Aubrey, Labour T.S. Bowen, Labour T.W. Morgan, Labour D.J. Jones, Labour W.W. Davies, Labour J. Amos Jones, Labour W.T. Griffiths, Labour J. Llewellyn Evans, Labour Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, Independent Apart from Dame Gwendoline, whose seat in Llanelli would be targeted by Labour at the by-election, the elevation of Labour councillors potentially strengthened the party's overall majority on the council. Two Independent aldermen who had been returned at the election, namely J.D. Rees (St Clears) and T.Ll. Harries (Llanstephan) were not re-elected.Labour Bid for More County Seats. Independents Prepare. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004711/19490423/001/0001?browse=False 2 April 2025 Llanelly Star 23 April 1949 1 By-elections Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.By-Elections Carmarthen Journal 27 May 1949 In Llanelli, the Independents gained two seats but Labour won the seat vacated by Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw. Berwick by-election Berwick by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) William Isaac Daniel 921 Independent Labour Emrys Daniel Lewis 873 Independent (politician) Elvet Pugh 22 Labour Party (UK) Kidwelly by-election Kidwelly by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) J.H. Williams 999 Independent (politician) W.G. Gilbert 294 Labour Party (UK) Llanedy by-election Llanedy by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) Gwyn Howells unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 2 by-election Llanelly Division 2 by-election 1949 Independent (politician) John Zammit 984 Labour Party (UK) T.M. Price 795 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 5 by-election Llanelly Division 5 by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) Ben Howells 454 Independent (politician) Harry Richards 307 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 6 by-election Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) W.J. Davies 666 Independent (politician) Harry Beaton 310 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 7 by-election Llanelly Division 7 by-election 1949 Independent (politician) Mrs Eleanor Thomas 616 Labour Party (UK) Miss Elsie Jones 590 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Pontyberem by-election Pontyberem by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) John Williams unopposed Labour Party (UK) Quarter Bach by-election Quarter Bach by-election 1949 Labour Party (UK) Josiah Jones 1,422 Independent (politician) Owen A. Jenkins 920 Labour Party (UK) Westfa by-election Westfa 1949 Labour Party (UK) W.J.F. Thomas 1,389 Independent (politician) Archibald Ivor Bailey 373 Labour Party (UK) References Category:Carmarthenshire County Council elections Category:1949 Welsh local elections