1946 Glamorgan County Council election

1946 Welsh local government election April 2022 The seventeenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election after the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War. It was followed by the 1949 election. Overview Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged. Boundary changes There were no boundary changes at this election. Candidates A significant number of Labour candidates were returned unopposed. A number of long-standing members stood down including the Reverend William Saunders, who was not selected as a Labour candidate and Gwilym Davies (Dulais Valley). There was significant Communist opposition, particularly in the Rhondda where Labour had only narrowly retained the Rhondda West constituency at the previous year's General Election. In Neath, it was originally reposed that long-serving councillor D.G. Davies, who had been a member of the county council with a few breaks for twenty-five years, would stand again.County Council Election Prospects. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003431/19460215/005/0001?browse=False 15 December 2022 Neath Guardian 15 February 1946 1 However, he ultimately stood down. Nine of the retiring aldermen sought re-election, the exceptions being the Rev William Saunders and Edgar Chappell. Outcome Labour retained their majority. In the Rhondda Valley, Labour withstood a Communist challengeCommunist Fare Badly in the Rhondda. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000104/19460309/047/0003?browse=False 19 April 2021 Western Mail 9 March 1946 3 This was the first county election for nine years as polling was reported as heavy in a number of wards, including the two contested wards at Pontypridd.County Election Results https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002891/19460309/008/0001?browse=False 23 April 2021 Pontypridd Observer 9 March 1946 1 In the Neath area, Labour retained four seats but at Coedffranc the sitting member D.T. Jenkins was defeated by Communist Alun Thomas, a member of the Neath Rural council since 1937.Communist Wins at Skewen. Surprise Election Result. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003431/19460315/064/0006 15 December 2022 Neath Guardian 15 March 1946 6 Results Aberaman Aberaman 1946 Labour Party (UK) Florence Rose Davies** Labour Party (UK) Aberavon Aberavon 1946 Labour Party (UK) Edward Lewis Hare* Labour Party (UK) Abercynon Abercynon 1946 Labour Party (UK) Joseph Dicks** Labour Party (UK) Aberdare Town Aberdare Town 1946 Independent (politician) Thomas Alwyn John 1,292 Labour Party (UK) Tom Williams 977 Independent (politician) Henry Cohen 242 315 Independent (politician) Bargoed Bargoed 1946 Labour Party (UK) William John Kedward* Labour Party (UK) Barry Dudley Howe had previously represented Cadoxton and gained the neighbouring Barry ward from Labour. However, Labour won Cadoxton for the first time against the new candidate. Barry 1946 Independent (politician) Dudley Thomas Howe* 2,304 Labour Party (UK) W. East* 2,004 300 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Barry Dock Barry Dock 1946 Labour Party (UK) Dorothy Rees** 1,965 Independent (politician) G. Edward Smith 1,762 203 Labour Party (UK) Blaengwawr Blaengwawr 1946 Labour Party (UK) William J. Edwards* Labour Party (UK) Bridgend Bridgend 1946 Independent (politician) William W. Phillips* Independent (politician) Briton Ferry Briton Ferry 1946 Labour Party (UK) George Gethin* Labour Party (UK) Cadoxton Cadoxton 1946 Labour Party (UK) Digby Smith 1,499 Independent (politician) A.L. Davies 1,158 341 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Caerphilly Caerphilly 1946 Labour Party (UK) Evan Phillips* Labour Party (UK) Castell Coch Castell Coch 1946 Independent (politician) Sir Lewis Lougher* 1,458 Labour Party (UK) Edward Harry Follis 606 852 Independent (politician) Cilfynydd Cilfynydd 1946 Labour Party (UK) W. Edryd Lewis Labour Party (UK) Coedffranc Coedffranc 1946 Communist Party of Great Britain Alun Thomas 2,055 Labour Party (UK) D.T. Jenkins* 1,938 Independent (politician) Bessie Davies 1,286 Plaid Cymru Noah Williams 84 117 Communist Party of Great Britain Labour Party (UK) Cowbridge Cowbridge 1946 Labour Party (UK) P. John Smith Labour Party (UK) Cwm Aber Cwm Aber 1946 Labour Party (UK) Rev David M. Jones* Labour Party (UK) Cwmavon Cwmavon 1946 Labour Party (UK) John Jones Edwards* Labour Party (UK) Cymmer Cymmer 1946 Labour Party (UK) John James Garwood* 1,167 Independent (politician) Evan Thomas 485 682 Labour Party (UK) Dinas Powys Dinas Powys 1946 Independent (politician) Ivor Broadbent Thomas* Independent (politician) Dulais Valley Dulais Valley 1946 Labour Party (UK) George Adams Labour Party (UK) Ferndale Ferndale 1946 Labour Party (UK) Alfred Evans* Labour Party (UK) Gadlys Gadlys 1946 Independent (politician) Thomas Phillips* 1,802 Labour Party (UK) David Idris Bruton 796 1,006 Independent (politician) Garw Valley Garw Valley 1946 Labour Party (UK) Charles Gunter* Labour Party (UK) Glyncorrwg Glyncorrwg 1946 Labour Party (UK) Sir William Jenkins** Labour Party (UK) Gower Gower 1946 Independent (politician) Fredrick William Davies 2,083 Labour Party (UK) Stanley Jones 1,480 603 Independent (politician) Hengoed Hengoed 1946 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Evans** Labour Party (UK) Hopkinstown Hopkinstown 1946 Labour Party (UK) Tom Waite Labour Party (UK) Kibbor Kibbor 1946 Independent (politician) Edgar L. Chappell 1,769 Independent (politician) John Kane 1,400 369 Independent (politician) Llandeilo Talybont Llandeilo Talybont 1946 Labour Party (UK) Caradoc Jones** Labour Party (UK) Llanfabon Llanfabon 1946 Labour Party (UK) William Bowen** Labour Party (UK) Llwydcoed Llwydcoed 1946 Independent (politician) Martha Emma Jones* Independent (politician) Llwynypia Llwynypia 1946 Labour Party (UK) Philip Haines Rowlands* Labour Party (UK) Loughor Loughor 1946 Labour Party (UK) David John Davies Labour Party (UK) Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1946 Labour Party (UK) John Evans** Labour Party (UK) Maesteg, East and West Maesteg East and West 1946 Labour Party (UK) Tom Jenkins* Labour Party (UK) Mountain Ash The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest. Mountain Ash 1946 Labour Party (UK) Justin Lewis Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Neath (North) Neath (North) 1946 Independent (politician) W.K. Owen 1,445 Labour Party (UK) Edgar Owen 991 454 Independent (politician) Neath (South) Neath (South) 1946 Labour Party (UK) Rev W. Degwel Thomas** 1,484 Independent (politician) Katie Davies 1,035 449 Labour Party (UK) Newcastle Newcastle 1946 Labour Party (UK) Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* Labour Party (UK) Ogmore Valley Ogmore Valley 1946 Communist Party of Great Britain Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* 1,963 Labour Party (UK) Stanley James Moore 833 1,130 Communist Party of Great Britain Penarth North Penarth North 1946 Labour Party (UK) H.J. Cook 1,001 Independent (politician) F.R. Cratchley 801 200 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Penarth South Penarth South 1946 Independent (politician) D.B. Jones Independent (politician) Pencoed Pencoed 1946 Labour Party (UK) Mervyn W. Paine* Labour Party (UK) Penrhiwceiber Penrhiwceiber 1946 Labour Party (UK) John William Bath* Labour Party (UK) Pentre Pentre 1946 Independent (politician) Glyn L. Wales 2,530 Labour Party (UK) Glyn Evans 978 Communist Party of Great Britain Thomas Evans 414 1,552 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Penygraig Penygraig 1946 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Churchill* 2,148 Independent (politician) William John Gribble 981 1,267 Labour Party (UK) Pontardawe Pontardawe 1946 Labour Party (UK) David Daniel Davies** Labour Party (UK) Pontlottyn Pontlottyn 1946 Labour Party (UK) W.A. Hancock* Labour Party (UK) Pontyclun Pontyclun 1946 Labour Party (UK) Theo Griffiths Labour Party (UK) Pontypridd Town Pontypridd Town 1946 Labour Party (UK) Ivor M. Jenkins 1,458 Independent (politician) Cyril R. Morgan 1,450 8 Labour Party (UK) Port Talbot East Port Talbot East 1946 Labour Party (UK) John Thomas** Labour Party (UK) Port Talbot West Port Talbot West 1946 Independent (politician) Llewelyn David* Independent (politician) Porth Porth 1946 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Griffiths 976 Independent (politician) Daniel Jones* 974 Communist Party of Great Britain Murray Williams 868 2 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Porthcawl Porthcawl 1946 Independent (politician) W.A. Howell* Independent (politician) Swansea Valley Swansea Valley 1946 Labour Party (UK) David Jenkins* Labour Party (UK) Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1946 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Rogers* 1,484 Communist Party of Great Britain David John Griffiths 711 Independent (politician) Harold Whitton Davies 584 Independent (politician) Evan Jones 97 773 Labour Party (UK) Trealaw Trealaw 1946 Communist Party of Great Britain Lewis Jones 1,945 Labour Party (UK) Richard Jones 1,315 630 Communist Party of Great Britain Treforest Treforest 1946 Labour Party (UK) Arthur W. Harris 2,507 Independent (politician) Ceiriog Williams 1,029 1,478 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Treherbert Treherbert 1946 Labour Party (UK) William Llewellyn* 3,345 Communist Party of Great Britain George Thomas 1,964 1,391 Labour Party (UK) Treorchy Treorchy 1946 Labour Party (UK) Rhys Evans** 4,401 Communist Party of Great Britain Ivor Williams 1,077 3,324 Labour Party (UK) Tylorstown Tylorstown 1946 Labour Party (UK) Llewellyn Jones 1,984 Communist Party of Great Britain Frederick J. Morton 942 1,042 Labour Party (UK) Vale of Neath Vale of Neath 1946 Labour Party (UK) William A. Betty* Labour Party (UK) Ynyshir Ynyshir 1946 Labour Party (UK) Ivor Jones 1,855 Independent (politician) Morgan Benjamin 1,418 437 Labour Party (UK) Ystalyfera Ystalyfera 1946 Labour Party (UK) Alice Williams* 2,051 Plaid Cymru Wynne Samuel 873 1,176 Labour Party (UK) Ystrad Ystrad 1946 Labour Party (UK) Sidney Cadogan** 1,931 Communist Party of Great Britain Annie Powell 1,189 Independent (politician) Thomas Aldridge 853 742 Labour Party (UK) Election of Aldermen In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1946 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents.Seniority Ignored in Selection of Chairman. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000104/19460315/050/0003?browse=False 22 April 2021 Western Mail 15 March 1946 3 Rhys Evans was the longest serving alderman, having first been elected in 1922. The following retiring aldermen were re-elected: Sidney Cadogan (Lab, Ystrad) W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower) Alfred Evans (Lab, Ferndale) Rhys Evans (Lab, Treorchy) Tom Evans (Lab, Pengam) Daniel T. Jones (Lab, Ystalyfera) W. Arthur Jones (Lab, Tonyrefail) Evan Phillips (Lab, Caerphilly) Rev W. Degwel Thomas (Lab, Neath) The following new aldermen were elected: H.J. Cook (Lab, Penarth) Mervyn Payne (Lab, Pencoed) By-elections Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen. At Neath, Charles P. Huins held his seat with a majority which exceeded that gained by Alderman Degwel Thomas at the triennial election.South Ward By-Election Result https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003431/19460419/075/0008?browse=False 15 December 2022 Neath Guardian 19 April 1946 8 Aberaman by-election Aberaman by-election 1946 Labour Party (UK) Sydney Herbert Stephens* Labour Party (UK) Neath South by-election Neath South by-election 1946 Labour Party (UK) Charles P. Huins 1,571 Independent (politician) John Walter Jones 896 675 Labour Party (UK) Llanfabon by-election Llanfabon by-election 1946 Labour Party (UK) Charles Herbert Davies 1,387 Independent (politician) Rev. Henry Withers 798 589 Labour Party (UK) Tylorstown by-election Tylorstown by-election 1947 Labour Party (UK) John Mardy Evans* 1,977 Communist Party of Great Britain George Edward Maslin 584 Independent (politician) David John 284 1,393 Labour Party (UK) References Bibliography Williams Chris Democratic Rhondda: Politics and society 1885-1951 1996 University of Wales Press Cardiff collapsed 1946 Category:1946 Welsh local elections Category:1940s in Glamorgan