1918 United Kingdom general election in Wales

none 1918 United Kingdom general election in Wales Wales parliamentary no December 1910 United Kingdom general election in Wales Dec. 1910 List of MPs elected in the December 1910 United Kingdom general election 1922 United Kingdom general election in Wales 1922 All 36 Welsh seats to the House of Commons List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1918 14 December 1918 65.9% (12.4 pp) David Lloyd George (3x4).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 David Lloyd George 7 December 1916 Coalition Liberal Coalition Caernarvon Boroughs Did not contest 18fn2 Combined results for county, borough and university seats. 18fn2 207,377fn1 39.2%fn1 New party William Adamson 1918 portrait (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 William Adamson 24 October 1917 West Fife Labour Party (UK) 5 seats,fn2 17.8% 9fn2 4fn2 163,055fn1 30.8%fn1 13.0 pp Andrew Bonar Law 01.jpg 125 120 160 0 0 Bonar Law 13 November 1911 Conservative Party (UK) Coalition Glasgow Central 3 seats,fn2 33.8%Combined results of the Conservative and Liberal Unionist Party in December 1910, which had since merged to the form the Conservative and Unionist party. 4fn2conservative combined Coalition Conservative and non-Coalition Conservative results. 1fn2conservative 59,592fn1 Total and percentage votes given here are for territorial constituencies only.conservative 11.3%fn1conservative 22.5 pp H.H. Asquith in 1910s by Olive Edis (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 H. H. Asquith 30 April 1908 East Fife (lost seat) Liberal Party (UK) 26 seats,fn2 47.9% 3fn2 23fn2 51,382fn1 9.7%fn1 38.2 pp United Kingdom general election 1918 in Wales.svg On Wednesday 14 December 1918, the 1918 United Kingdom general election was held in Wales, to elect all 707 members of the House of Commons, with 36 constituencies being in Wales.British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 20-21 2006British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 9-10 0333197348 1976 35 seats represented territorial constituencies contested under the first past the post electoral system, and one additional seat represented the University of Wales which was also contested under the first past the post electoral system.https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04458/ Research Briefing: Voting systems in the UK 10 January 2023 Library of the House of Commons 7 August 2026 The election was called immediately after the Armistice with Germany which ended the First World War, and was held on Saturday, 14 December 1918. The governing coalition, under Prime Minister David Lloyd George, sent letters of endorsement to candidates who supported the coalition government, these being primarily Conservatives and Unionists and Coalition Liberals. These were nicknamed "Coalition Coupons", and led to the election being known as the "coupon election". It would be the last election at which the Liberal Party (or Liberals as a whole) would hold the majority or most seats or vote share in Wales. Electoral system All constituencies contested under the first past the post electoral system. It was the first general election to be held after enactment of the Representation of the People Act 1918. It was the first election and all men over the age of 21 could vote. By extension, it was the first election in which women over the age of 30 could vote in elections, though with some qualifications of property ownership.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 173 0333197348 1976 Under the post-war redistribution which was also under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1918, the number of constituencies in Wales was increased from the 34 used in elections between 1885 and December 1910, to a total of 36 at this election, and would remain so until 1950.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 173 0333197348 1976 Amongst the new constituencies, this was the first election in which the University of Wales had a constituency that returned members to the House of Commons. The constituency would exist until 1950, when it was abolished for that election.Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 676 978-1-349-81467-1 Candidates Below is a table summarising the candidates of the 1918 general election in Wales, excluding those in the University of Wales constituency.https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf UK Election Statistics: 1918-2023, A Century of Elections Cracknell Richard Uberoi Elise Burton Matthew 9 August 2023 House of Commons Library 23 8 August 2026https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/general-elections/21 UK General Elections Results 1832-2019 12 August 2026 Affiliation CandidatesLabour Party 25Coalition Liberal 19Liberal Party 10Conservative Party 8The non-Coalition Conservative candidates that stood were James Childs Gould in Cardiff Central, Lord Colum Crichton-Stuart in Cardiff East, Herbert Cory in Cardiff South, Leolin Forestier-Walker in Monmouth, Arthur Seaton in Pontypridd and David Davies in Swansea West. The Coalition Conservative candidates that stood were William Cope in Llandaff and Barry and Leonard Wilkinson Llewelyn in Pontypool.Independent Labour 2Candidate Owen Thomas stood in Anglesey and Robert Jones in Caernarvonshire.Independent 2The candidates that stood were Austin Harrison in Caernarvon Boroughs and Charles Sixsmith in Llandaff and Barry.Coalition National Democratic 1Candidate Charles Stanton stood in Aberdare.Independent Unionist 1Candidate Robert Hughes stood in Cardiff Central.Independent Democratic 1Candidate Bertie Pardoe-Thomas stood in Newport.Independent NFDDSS 1Candidate T. G. Jones stood in Aberavon. Jones was only endorsed by the local branch of the NFDDSS.Christian Socialist 1Candidate Griffith Bowen Thomas stood in Pembrokeshire.Total 71 Analysis Coalition Liberals and Liberal Party Amongst the Liberal Parties, the Coalition Liberals (led by Prime Minister David Lloyd George gained a significant 18 seats. Aberavon, Brecon and Radnorshire, David Lloyd George's constituency of Caernarvon Boroughs, Caernarvonshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthen, Denbigh, Flintshire, Llanelly, Merthyr, Neath, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Pontypridd, Swansea East, Swansea West and Wrexham. The Coalition Liberals also one the new single seat in the University of Wales,Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 672 978-1-349-81467-1 totaling 18 seats.British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 21 2006British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 3 10 0333197348 1976 The Coalition Liberals held the greatest number of seats in Wales. It would be the last election in which the a Liberal Party would hold the greatest number (or indeed a majority) of seats in Wales.British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 20 2006 When combined with results from across the United Kingdom, the result was a massive landslide in favour of the coalition. This included the Coalition Liberals, the vast majority of Conservative MPs across the United Kingdom and the Coalition candidates of the National Democratic and Labour Party.British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 21 2006 However, outside the Coalition, Liberal Party (led by H. H. Asquith), lost a total of 21 seats compared to the last election, primarily to the Coalition Liberals in the newly redistributed constituencies. However, the Liberals held Cardiff East, Merioneth, Montgomeryshire.Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 535, 563, 569 978-1-349-81467-1 Coalition and non-Coalition Conservatives The Conservative Party, which had formed in 1912 from the unification of the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists won seats at the election after fielding only eight candidates in total compared with it standing many more in previous elections. As a result, the party saw a drop of over 22.5% of the vote share in Wales, with the Coalition Conservatives not standing candidates against the Coalition Liberals, and non-Coalition Conservatives standing so few in number in Wales against Coalition Liberals. Two candidates were sent coalition coupons, with one candidate, William Cope, winning the seat of Llandaff and Barry.Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 559 978-1-349-81467-1 Amongst the other six conservatives who did not receive Coalition Coupons, three were elected. Herbert Cory won Cardiff South, being a Conservative retention compared to the abolished Cardiff in the last election. Leolin Forestier-Walker gained Monmouth. Additionally, James Childs Gould, who also gained Cardiff Central, had received a Coalition Coupon, but it was revoked before the election.Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 536, 567 978-1-349-81467-1 However, Denbigh Boroughs was abolished after the redistribution, with Coalition Liberals retaining the two replacement seats that covered also covered the abolished constituency. The former Member of Parliament, William Ormsby-Gore, however, did move constituencies after being selected for Stafford at this election. The party also lost Montgomery, which had been abolished, within Montgomeryshire being retained by the Liberals. This were two losses for the Conservative Party. As such, one Coupon Conservative won a seat, with three Conservatives winning without Coalition Coupons.British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 20 2006 This was an overall gain of one seat in Wales for the Conservatives combined compared with the last election. The non-Coalition Conservatives elected, along with the rest elected across the United Kingdom, did not form an opposition or bloc against the National Coalition, but were principally concerned with the issue of Irish independence.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 3 10 0333197348 1976 Labour and other parties The Labor Party won nine seats in Wales at the election, an increase of four seats compared with the previous election. Labour won Abertillery, Bedwellty, Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Gower, Ogmore, Pontypool, Rhondda East and Rhondda West.Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 547-570 978-1-349-81467-1 In addition, Independent Labour candidate Owen Thomas won the seat of Anglesey, winning it from the long-standing MP Ellis Ellis-Griffith of the Liberal Party.Craig F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–49 https://books.google.com/books?id=MMCuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 1st 1977 The Macmillan Press Ltd London and Basingstoke 547 978-1-349-81467-1 Coalition National Democratic candidate Charles Stanton won the seat of Aberdare, a new seat which replaced one held by the Liberals in the last election.Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections 1885-1974 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 1349023485 54 1975 Stanton had previously held one of the two seats in the now abolished Merthyr Tydfil as an Independent Labour MP of after the 1915 Merthyr Tydfil by-election wherein he replaced Kier Hardie following Hardie's death. County and borough constituency results Below is a table summarising the constituency results of the 1918 general election in Wales, excluding the result in the University of Wales constituency. +Partyhttps://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf UK Election Statistics: 1918-2023, A Century of Elections Cracknell Richard Uberoi Elise Burton Matthew 9 August 2023 House of Commons Library 22-23 8 August 2026SeatsAggregate votes Total Gains Losses Net Of total (%) Total Of total (%) Change (%)   Coalition Government (Total) 22 colspan="2" New 19 62.9 289,793 54.8 New   Coalition Liberal 17 colspan="2" New 17 48.6 207,377 39.2 New   Conservative 4Includes 3 non-Coalition Conservative MPs. 3Includes 2 non-Coalition Conservative MPs. 2Includes 2 non-Coalition Conservatives MPs. 1Includes +0 for non-Coalition Conservatives. 11.4Includes 8.6% for non-Coalition Conservatives. 59,592Includes 39,264 for non-Coalition Conservatives. 11.3Includes 7.4% for non-Coalition Conservatives. 22.5   Coalition NDP 1 colspan="2" New 1 2.9 22,824 4.3 New   Labour 9 4 0 4 25.7 163,055 30.8 13.0   Liberal 3 0 23 23 8.6 51,382 9.7 38.2   Independent Labour 1Owen Thomas in Anglesey. 1 0 1 2.9 17,183 3.3 2.8   Ind. Unionist 0 colspan=3 New — 3,419 0.7 New   Independent 0 colspan=3 Did not stand in Dec. 1910 — 2,634 0.5   Independent Democratic 0 colspan=3 New — 647 0.1 New   Christian Socialist 0 colspan=3 New — 597 0.1 New   Independent NFDDSS 0 colspan=3 New — 324 0.1 New Total 35 1 100.0 529,034 100.0 0.0 Registered voters, and turnout 1,170,974British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 76 0333197348 1976Including the electorate in uncontested constituencies. 65.9https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf UK Election Statistics: 1918-2023, A Century of Elections Cracknell Richard Uberoi Elise Burton Matthew 9 August 2023 House of Commons Library 29 8 August 2026 12.4 Popular vote Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Coalition Liberal Coalition Liberal 39.2 Labour Labour Party (UK) 30.8 Conservative Conservative Party (UK) 11.3 Liberal Liberal Party (UK) 9.7 Coalition NDP National Democratic and Labour Party 4.3 Ind. Labour Independent Labour 3.3 Other #777777 1.4 Popular vote (coalitions) #ddd 600px 410px Coalition Gov. #000000 54.8 Labour Labour Party (UK) 30.8 Liberal Liberal Party (UK) 9.7 Ind. Labour Independent Labour 3.3 Other #777777 1.4 Parliament seats Parliament seats #ddd 600px 410px Coalition Liberal Coalition Liberal 48.6 Labour Labour Party (UK) 25.7 Conservative Conservative Party (UK) 11.4 Liberal Liberal Party (UK) 8.6 Coalition NDP National Democratic and Labour Party 2.9 Ind. Labour Independent Labour 2.9 Parliament seats (coalitions) #ddd 600px 410px Coalition Gov. #000000 62.9 Labour Labour Party (UK) 25.7 Liberal Liberal Party (UK) 8.6 Ind. Labour Independent Labour 2.9 University of Wales result Below is a table summarising the 1918 constituency results for seat of the University of Wales constituency. The Coalition Liberals retaining the seat brought the party's total in Wales to 18 seats out of the possible 36. General election 1918: University of Wales Coalition Liberal Herbert Lewis 739 80.8 Labour Party (UK) Millicent Mackenzie 176 19.2 563 61.6 915 85.8 Coalition Liberal See also 1918 United Kingdom general election in England 1918 United Kingdom general election in Scotland 1918 United Kingdom general election in Ireland List of MPs for constituencies in Wales (1918–1922) Notes References Politics Wales United Kingdom Category:1918 in Wales Category:1910s elections in Wales 1918 #Wales