1946 Neath Rural District Council election

1946 Welsh local government election An election to the Neath Rural District Council in West Glamorgan, Wales was held on 1 April 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election, as no elections had been held in 1940 and 1943 due to the Second World War, and followed by the 1949 election.R.D.C. Election Surprises. Seven Old Members Defeated. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003431/19460405/003/0001?browse=False 9 December 2022 Neath Guardian 5 April 1946 1 Overview of the results Having won control of the authority for the first time in 1934, Labour consolidated their position by winning a number of additional seats across the area with the Independent group, which previously controlled the authority, reduced to only six members. Candidates Labour, who had maintained a majority of seats on the Council since 1934, nominated almost a full slate of candidates; seven of whom were returned unpposed.Neath Rural Election. Many Candidates Nominated. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004337/19460322/029/0004?browse=False 15 December 2022 Neath Guardian 22 March 1946 5 A smaller number of Independent candidates stood than in previous years, although their number was boosted by Mary Elizabeth Davies, originally a Labour councillor at Coedffranc who had been elected as Independent Labour in 1937. She now stood as a non-party candidate. British Legion candidates contested both Coedffranc and Resolven. There were also a number of Communist candidates, including Alun Thomas who had recently taken the Coedffranc county council seat from Labour. Outcome The outcome of the election saw a mixed picture as Labour gained seats from the Independents, but the chairman of the Council Council, John James, was defeated at Onllwyn by a Communist candidate. Alun Thomas successfully defended his seat at Dyffryn Clydach, where Labour took the second seat an Independent. At Seven Sisters, Labour also gained a seat from the Independents, although Communist candidate Evan Lewis came within 64 votes of defeating the veteran Labour councillor, George Jones. A notable feature was the success of British Legion candidates at Coedffranc and Resolven. Significantly, the result at Coedffranc echoed a precedent in 1919 when an ex-serviceman was elected in the same ward. Ward results Baglan Higher (one seat) Baglan Higher 1946 Labour Party (UK) William Jones* Labour Party (UK) Blaengwrach (one seats) Blaengwrach 1946 Labour Party (UK) Albert Vowles* Labour Party (UK) Blaenrhonddan (three seats) Blaenrhonddan 1946 Labour Party (UK) J.T. Evans* 1,188 Independent (politician) Daniel Jones 892 Labour Party (UK) Albert Mansel Davies 877 Labour Party (UK) William James Down 846 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Clyne (one seats) Clyne 1946 Labour Party (UK) Thomas G. Allen 225 Labour Party (UK) Coedffranc (five seats) Coedffranc 1946 British Legion George Frost 2,069 Independent (politician) Mary Elizabeth Davies* 1,925 Independent (politician) Amy Jones* 1,877 Labour Party (UK) Thomas Rees 1,440 Labour Party (UK) William Davies* 1,334 Labour Party (UK) David Jenkins* 1,269 Labour Party (UK) D. Thomas 943 Trade Unionist H. Benyon 806 Labour Party (UK) H. Jones 783 Independent (politician) Independent (politician) Independent Labour Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Dyffryn Clydach (two seats) Dyffryn Clydach 1946 Communist Party of Great Britain Alun C. Thomas* 672 Labour Party (UK) Gwyn Davies 497 British Legion Henry Phillips 430 Independent (politician) David Williams* 247 Communist Party of Great Britain Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat) Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1946 Labour Party (UK) John James* 505 Independent (politician) Daniel C. Williams 354 151 Labour Party (UK) Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat) Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1946 Communist Party of Great Britain William John Davies 670 Labour Party (UK) John James* 540 130 Communist Party of Great Britain Labour Party (UK) Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats) Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1946 Labour Party (UK) Edith Jones 815 Labour Party (UK) George Jones* 707 Communist Party of Great Britain Evan Lewis 643 Independent (politician) William Morris 434 Independent (politician) W.P. Harries* 226 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Dulais Lower (one seat) Dulais Lower 1946 Labour Party (UK) J.S. George* 396 Labour Party (UK) Michaelstone Higher (one seat) Michaelstone Higher 1946 Independent Labour David Davies 279 Labour Party (UK) Patrick Boyle* 250 Communist Party of Great Britain David H. Griffiths 116 29 Independent Labour Labour Party (UK) Neath Higher (three seats) Neath Higher 1946 Labour Party (UK) Blodwen May Jones* 946 Independent (politician) Richard Arthur 935 Labour Party (UK) Joseph James Lunn* 668 Labour Party (UK) Lewis Cynlais Adams 594 Independent (politician) David Arthur* 535 Independent (politician) William Morgan Davies 497 Independent (politician) Ralph Vincent Morgan 474 Independent (politician) Aubrey Jenkins 438 Independent (politician) Clifford Harrett Harries 387 Communist Party of Great Britain Evan G. Williams 330 Independent Labour T. Challacombe 266 Independent (politician) William Henry Morris 126 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Neath Lower (one seat) Neath Lower 1946 Labour Party (UK) Samuel Burnard* 174 Labour Party (UK) Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward (one seat) Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward 1946 Labour Party (UK) Edward John Ateyo* 351 Labour Party (UK) Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats) Resolven, Resolven Ward 1946 Labour Party (UK) Richard Geary* 930 British Legion T. Roberts 610 Labour Party (UK) Richard V. Morgan 585 Independent (politician) Benjamin Jones 430 Independent (politician) Griffith J. Thomas 240 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats) Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1946 Independent (politician) Rees Morgan Smith* 509 Labour Party (UK) Iorwerth Williams 301 Labour Party (UK) Richard George Norman* 226 Independent (politician) Henry Walters 209 Independent (politician) William David Evans 196 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Resolven, Tonna Ward (one seat) Resolven, Tonna Ward 1946 Labour Party (UK) Gethin Thomas* 622 Independent (politician) Rev D.J. Walters 401 221 Labour Party (UK) References collapsed Category:1946 Welsh local elections