1966 Carmarthen by-election

UK Parliamentary by-election in Wales thumb|Gwynfor Evans commemorative plaque in Carmarthen based on the night of the election. March 2025 November 2013 The 1966 Carmarthen by-election, was held in Carmarthen, Wales, on 14 July 1966. The contest was significant in that it resulted in the election of Gwynfor Evans, the first ever Plaid Cymru member of parliament. Plaid Cymru's victory in the Carmarthen constituency, a seminal moment for Welsh nationalism, was part of a wider process toward Welsh devolution which eventually led to the establishment of the Welsh Assembly in 1999. The election was caused by the death of Labour Party member of parliament Megan Lloyd George. Sensing rising nationalist feeling in Wales, to fight the election Labour selected Gwilym Davies, a Welsh-speaking solicitor who was an active supporter of the Welsh language and had previously been a member of Plaid Cymru.Julia Langdon, "Lord Prys-Davies obituary", The Guardian, 13 April 2017, accessed 23 August 2025 Gwynfor Evans's surprise win is credited with laying the foundations for Winnie Ewing's victory for the Scottish National Party at the 1967 Hamilton by-election, an event of equal significance for Scottish nationalism. Result 1966 Carmarthen by-electionhttp://by-elections.co.uk/65.html https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205408/http://by-elections.co.uk/65.html 1965 By Election Results 2013-10-29 dead 2015-08-19Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British parliamentary election results 1950-1970 (1 ed.). Chichester: Political Reference Publications. 9780900178023. Page 570 Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 16,179 39.0 +22.8 Welsh Labour Gwilym P. Davies 13,743 33.1 -13.1 Liberal Party (UK) Hywel Davies 8,650 20.8 -5.3 Welsh Conservatives Simon Day 2,934 7.1 -4.5 2,436 5.9 N/A 41,506 74.9 -7.7 55,407 Plaid Cymru Labour Party (UK) +12.0 See also 1882 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election 1924 Carmarthen by-election 1928 Carmarthen by-election 1941 Carmarthen by-election 1957 Carmarthen by-election Carmarthen (UK Parliament constituency) Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom) References External links https://archive.today/20021116142424/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/public_life/gwynfor_evans.shtml BBC – South East Wales – Hall of Fame – Gwynfor Evans el Election leaflet of Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru candidate in the 1966 Carmarthen by-election Welsh by-election results: 1833–1972 1966 – 67 By Elections Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Welsh constituencies Category:Plaid Cymru Carmarthen by-election Carmarthen by-election Carmarthen by-election, 1966 Category:Elections in Carmarthenshire Category:20th century in Carmarthenshire Carmarthen by-election