1931 United Kingdom general election in Wales

None 1931 United Kingdom general election in Wales 27 October 1931 Wales parliamentary no 1929 United Kingdom general election in Wales 1929 List of MPs elected in the 1929 United Kingdom general election 1935 United Kingdom general election in Wales 1935 All 36 Welsh seats to the House of Commons List of MPs elected in the 1931 United Kingdom general election 79.3% (3.1 pp) Arthurhenderson.jpg 122 120 160 0 0 Arthur Henderson 1 September 1931 Labour Party (UK) Burnley (Lost seat) 25 seats,fn2 Combined results for county, borough and university seats. 43.9% 16fn2Labopp Figure is for all Welsh candidates in the Labour Opposition in 1931 9fn2Labopp 479,547fn1 Total and percentage votes given here are for territorial constituencies only.Labopp 44.1%fn1Labopp 0.2 ppfn1Labopp Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg 122 120 160 0 0 Stanley Baldwin 23 May 1923 Conservative Party (UK) National Government Bewdley 1 seat,fn2 22.0% 6fn2 5fn2 240,861fn1 22.1%fn1 0.1 ppfn1 Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel.jpg 122 120 160 0 0 Herbert Samuel 4 November 1931 Liberal Party (UK) National Government Darwen 10 seats,fn2 33.5% 5fn2 5fn2 157,472fn1 14.5%fn1 19.0 ppfn1 Viscount_Simon.jpg 122 120 160 0 0 John Simon 5 October 1931 Liberal National National Government Spen Valley Did not contest 4fn2 4fn2 75,717fn1 7.0%fn1 New party David Lloyd George (3x4).jpg 122 120 160 0 0 David Lloyd George 1931 Independent Liberals Caernarvon Boroughs Did not contest 4fn2 4fn2 71,539fn1 6.6%fn1 New party Ramsay MacDonald ggbain 35734.jpg 122 120 160 0 0 Ramsay MacDonald 24 August 1931 National Labour Organisation National Government Seaham Did not contest 1fn2 1fn2 24,120fn1 2.2%fn1 New party United Kingdom general election 1931 in Wales.svg On Tuesday 27 October 1931, the 1931 United Kingdom general election was held in Wales, to elect all 615 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 28-29 2006 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 It was the last UK general election not to take place on a Thursday. In this election, the parties forming the National Government across the United Kingdom won 67 per cent of the popular vote and over 90 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons. In Wales, despite the National Government obtaining more votes than the Labour Opposition, the combined Labour Opposition still held the most seats.British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 29 2006British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 17 0333197348 1976 Candidates Below is a table summarising the candidates of the 1931 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/26 UK General Elections Results 1832-2019 12 August 2026Craig 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 978-1-349-81467-1British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 16 0333197348 1976 Affiliation CandidatesLabour Party 29Conservative Party 14Liberal Party 10Liberal National Party 5The candidates that stood were Henry Morris-Jones in Denbigh, Frederick Llewellyn-Jones in Flintshire, Clement Davies in Montgomeryshire, Thomas Keens in Pontypool and Lewis Jones in Swansea West.Independent Liberals 4The candidates that stood were Megan Lloyd George in Anglesey, Goronwy Owen in Caernarvonshire, David Lloyd George in Caernarvon Boroughs and Gwilym Lloyd George in Pembrokeshire.Communist Party of Great Britain 3The candidates that stood were John Ross Campbell in Ogmore, Arthur Horner in Rhondda East and John Leigh Davies in Rhondda West.New Party 2The candidates that stood were Sellick Davies in Merthyr and William Lowell in Pontypridd.National Labour Organisation 1Incumbent sitting Labour Member of Parliament Ernest Bennett, who defected to National Labour, stood in Cardiff Central.Independent Labour Party 1Candidate R. C. Wallhead, whose support by the Labour Party was withdrawn, stood in Merthyr.Independent Labour 1Candidate Thomas Mardy Jones stood in Pontypridd.Plaid Cymru 1Candidate John Edward Daniel stood in Caernarvonshire.National Independent 1This category of candidates refers to independents that supported the National Government coalition, labelling themselves as National Independents or National candidates, but were not themselves a part of the National Government. Candidate W. P. O. Evans stood in Caernarvonshire.Total 72 Analysis Labour Opposition Although the National Coalition parties polled with the greater vote share combined in Wales, and formed the Government of the United Kingdom following the election, the combined Labour opposition retained its position as the largest party by seats in Wales.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 3 16 0333197348 1976 Former chair of the Independent Labour Party R. C. Wallhead had his support withdrawn by the Labour Party in his safe Labour seat of Merthyr.Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections 1885-1974 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 1349023485 41 1975 Wallhead won the seat as an Independent Labour Party candidate, being only one of five such candidates to retain his seat.The four other candidates independent to the Labour Party to retain their seats were in Scotland, with three others also being part of the Independent Labour Party, and David Kirkwood winning his seat under the label of Independent Labour.Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections 1885-1974 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 1349023485 41-42 1975 He remained part of the Labour Opposition to the National Government despite not being part of the party. Wallhead would, however, Wallhead resign from the Independent Labour Party and rejoined the Labour in 1933. Wallhead's later death in 1934, however, also caused the 1934 Merthyr by-election with Labour candidate S. O. Davies retaking the seat.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 3 50 0333197348 1976 Overall, the Labour opposition lost a total of nine seats in Wales. National Government The Conservative Party, as the largest party of the National Government, gained Newport, Brecon and Radnorshire, Llandaff and Barry, Cardiff East and Cardiff South from the Labour Party. Notably, Cardiff East had switched from the Liberals initially holding the seat at its creation in 1918, to the Conservative Party in 1922, to the Liberal Party in 1923, returning again to the Conservatives in 1924 United Kingdom general election, then being gained by the Labour Party in 1929;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 535 978-1-349-81467-1 however, the seat would again return to the Conservative Party in this election, and be held by the party until the 1942 Cardiff East by-election.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig The Macmillan Press 3 50 0333197348 1976 The newly formed Liberal National Party, which had split from the Liberal Party and which were also part of the National Government, gained Denbigh, Flintshire and Montgomeryshire from the Liberal Party by way of incumbent members of the Liberals defecting to the new party and winning the seats. Of those seats, both Clement Davies in Montgomeryshire and Henry Morris-Jones in Denbigh ran unopposed. The party also gained Swansea West from Labour. The fifth seat the party contested was Pontypool, however the candidate Thomas Keens was unsuccessful.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 568 978-1-349-81467-1 Additionally, the newly formed National Labour led by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald gained Cardiff Central.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 534 978-1-349-81467-1 This was the only seat in Wales contested by National Labour. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the seat, former Labour member Ernest Bennett, defected and won the seat in the election. Liberals and Independent Liberals The Liberal Party, which had joined the National Coalition, gained Wrexham and Carmarthen from the Labour Party, as well as Liberal Ernest Evans again retaining his seat in the University of Wales constituency. However, due to David Lloyd George splitting from the party in opposition to the Liberal Party being in National Government, the Independent Liberals, who were incumbent Members of Parliament and primarily members of his family, gained four seats from the Liberal Party. These were Lloyd George himself in Caernarvon Boroughs, his daughter and first female Member of Parliament for Wales Megan Lloyd George in Anglesey and his son Gwilym Lloyd George in Pembrokeshire.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 533, 547, 570 978-1-349-81467-1 It also included Goronwy Owen in Caernarvonshire, whose wife Gladwyn was the sister of Edna, the wife of Gwilym Lloyd George.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 549 978-1-349-81467-1 The Independent Liberal group only won seats in Wales, despite two other candidates running in English constituencies.These candidates were Edgar Wallace in Blackpool and Frank Owen in Hereford.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 93, 369 978-1-349-81467-1 As a result, the Liberal party was decreased to just holding five seats in Wales, with Lloyd George's Independent Liberals holding four.British Electoral Facts 1885-1975 F.W.S. Craig Macmillan Press 3 16 0333197348 1976British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 28 2006 County and borough constituency results Below is a table summarising the constituency results of the 1931 general election in Wales, excluding the result in the University of Wales constituency. +PartyCraig 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 978-1-349-81467-1British Electoral Facts Colin Rallings Micheal Thrasher Total Politics 978-1-907278-03-7 28 2006SeatsAggregate votes Total Gains Losses Net Of total (%) Total Of total (%) Change (%)   Labour Opposition (Total) 16 0 9 9 45.7 479,547 44.1 0.2 Labour Party (UK) 15 0 10 10 42.8 454,924 41.8 2.1 Independent Labour Party 1R. C. Wallhead in Merthyr. colspan="2" New 1 2.9 24,623 2.3 New   National Government (Total) 15 colspan="2" New 5 42.9 498,170 45.8 New Conservative Party (UK) 6 5 0 5 17.1 240,861 22.1 0.1 Liberal Party (UK) 4 2 7 5 11.4 157,472 14.5 19.0   Liberal National 4 colspan="2" New 4 11.4 75,717 7.0 New National Labour Organisation 1 colspan="2" New 1 2.9 24,120 2.2 New   Independent Liberals 4 colspan="2" New 4 11.4 71,539 6.6 New   Communist 0 0 0 — 17,754 1.6 1.0   New Party 0 colspan="3" New — 11,300 1.0 New   National Independent 0 colspan="3" New — 7,990 0.7 New   Plaid Cymru 0 0 0 — 1,136 0.1 0.1   Independent Labour 0 colspan="3" Did not stand in 1931 — 1,110 0.1 Total 35 0 100.0 1,088,546 100.0 0.0 Registered voters, and turnout 1,625,118Including the electorate in uncontested constituencies. 79.3https://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 3.1 Popular vote Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Labour Opp. Labour Party (UK) 44.1 Conservative Conservative Party (UK) 22.1 Liberal Liberal Party (UK) 14.5 Liberal National National Liberal Party (UK, 1931) 7.0 Ind. Liberals Independent Liberals (UK, 1931) 6.6 National Labour National Labour Organisation 2.2 Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru 0.1 Others #777777 3.4 Popular vote (coalitions) #ddd 600px 410px National Gov. #000000 45.8 Labour Opp. Labour Party (UK) 44.1 Ind. Liberals Independent Liberals (UK, 1931) 6.6 Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru 0.1 Others #777777 3.4 Parliament seats Parliament seats #ddd 600px 410px Labour Opp. Labour Party (UK) 45.7 Conservative Conservative Party (UK) 17.1 Liberal Liberal Party (UK) 11.4 Liberal National National Liberal Party (UK, 1931) 11.4 Ind. Liberals Independent Liberals (UK, 1931) 11.4 National Labour National Labour Organisation 2.9 Parliament seats (coalitions) #ddd 600px 410px Labour Opp. Labour Party (UK) 45.7 National Gov. #000000 42.9 Ind. Liberals Independent Liberals (UK, 1931) 11.4 University of Wales result Below is a table summarising the 1931 constituency results for seat of the University of Wales constituency. The Liberal Party retained the seat, bringing the total seats of the Liberal Party to five out of the possible 36. General election 1931: University of Wales Liberal Party (UK) Ernest Evans 2,229 75.4 +11.9 Plaid Cymru Saunders Lewis 914 24.6 New 1,315 50.8 +12.2 3,143 61.4 -13.0 Liberal Party (UK) See also 1931 United Kingdom general election in England 1931 United Kingdom general election in Scotland 1931 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland List of MPs for constituencies in Wales (1931–1935) Notes References Politics Wales United Kingdom Category:1931 in Wales Category:1930s elections in Wales 1930 #Wales