Carmarthen (UK Parliament constituency)

Carmarthen
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Preserved county Dyfed
Major settlements Carmarthen, Ammanford, Llandeilo
1918 (1918)–1997 (1997)
Number of members One
Replaced by Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire
1542 (1542)–1918 (1918)
Number of members One
Type of constituency Borough constituency

Carmarthen (Welsh: Caerfyrddyn) was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1542 and 1997. Until 1832 it was a borough constituency consisting of the town of Carmarthen, and between 1832 and 1918 it was a district of boroughs constituency, consisting of Carmarthen itself and Llanelli, and was sometimes called The Carmarthen Boroughs. In 1918 the borough was abolished but the name was transferred to one of the divisions of the county of Carmarthenshire.

After its abolition in 1997, it was partly replaced by the new Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency, and partly by Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

Contents

History

Because the seat contained mining areas in the Gwendraeth valley (until the 1980s), vast amounts of countryside and a high proportion of Welsh speakers, this was fertile territory for Labour party, the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru alike. Although the Conservatives never won the seat, they came within 1200 votes of doing so in 1983.

Carmarthen is notable for being the first constituency to elect a Plaid Cymru MP, Gwynfor Evans, at a 1966 by-election. Evans was then involved in one of the closest General Election results ever in February 1974, when he lost to the winning Labour candidate by only three votes.[1][2]

Boundaries

The constituency was made up of the whole of the county of Carmarthenshire except for the urban area around Llanelli. Notable towns were Carmarthen itself, Ammanford and Llandeilo.

In 1997, the Boundary Commission for Wales recommended an extra seat for Dyfed.[3] This led to the seat being split two to one between Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire.[4]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1542-1640

Parliament Member
1542 Gruffydd Williams[5]
1545 Gruffydd Williams[5]
1547 Thomas Phaer[5]
1553 (Mar) William Parry[5]
1553 (Oct) Gruffydd Hygons[5]
1554 (Apr) William Aubrey[6][5]
1554 (Nov) John Parry[5]
1555 William Wightman[5]
1558 John Vaughan[5]
1559 John Parry[7]
1563 John Morgan[7]
1571 ?John Vaughan[7]
1572 Thomas Wigmore[7]
1584 John Puckering, sat for Bedford
replaced 1584 by Edward Donne Lee[7]
1586 Edward Donne Lee[7]
1588 Gelly Meyrick[7]
1593 Sir Thomas Baskerville[7]
1597 Henry Vaughan[7]
1601 Walter Rice[7]
1604-1611 Sir Walter Rice
1614 William Thomas
1621 Henry Vaughan
1624 Henry Vaughan
1626 Henry Vaughan
1628 Henry Vaughan
1629–1640 No Parliaments summoned

1640-1997

Election Member[8] Party
1640 (Apr) Francis Lloyd Royalist
1640 (Nov) Francis Lloyd Royalist
February 1644 Lloyd disabled from sitting - seat vacant
1646 William Davies
December 1648 Davies not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge
1653 Carmarthen was not represented in the Barebones Parliament
or the First or Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
January 1659 David Morgan
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 Arthur Annesley
1661 Hon. John Vaughan
1679 Altham Vaughan
1685 Richard Vaughan
1725 James Phillips
1727 Arthur Bevan
1741 Sir John Philipps
1747 Thomas Mathews
1751 Griffith Philipps
1761 The Earl Verney
1768 Griffith Philipps
1774 John Adams
1780 George Philipps
1784 John George Philipps
May 1796 Magens Dorrien Magens[9]
November 1796 John George Philipps
1803 Sir William Paxton
1806 Vice-Admiral George Campbell
1813 John Frederick Campbell
1821 John Jones
1832 Hon. William Yelverton Whig
1835 David Lewis Conservative
1837 David Morris Whig
1859 Liberal
1864 William Morris Liberal
1868 (Sir) John Cowell-Stepney[10] Liberal
1874 Charles William Nevill Conservative
1876 (Sir) Emile Cowell-Stepney[11] Liberal
1878 Benjamin Thomas Williams Liberal
1882 by-election John Jones Jenkins Liberal
1886 Sir Emile Cowell-Stepney Liberal
1892 Evan Rowland Jones Liberal
1895 Sir John Jones Jenkins Liberal Unionist
1900 Alfred Davies Liberal
1906 William Llewelyn Williams Liberal
1918 John Hinds Coalition Liberal
1923 Sir Ellis Ellis-Griffith Liberal
1924 by-election Alfred Mond Liberal
1926 Conservative
1928 by-election William Nathaniel Jones Liberal
1929 Daniel Hopkin Labour
1931 Richard Thomas Evans Liberal
1935 Daniel Hopkin Labour
1941 by-election Ronw Moelwyn Hughes Labour
1945 Rhys Hopkin Morris Liberal
1957 by-election Megan Lloyd-George Labour
1966 by-election Gwynfor Evans Plaid Cymru
1970 Gwynoro Jones Labour
Oct. 1974 Gwynfor Evans Plaid Cymru
1979 Roger Thomas Labour
1987 Alan Wynne Williams Labour
1997 constituency abolished: see Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and
Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire

Elections

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1992: Carmarthen[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Wynne Williams 20,879 36.6 +1.3
Plaid Cymru H. Rhodri Glyn Thomas 17,957 31.5 +8.5
Conservative Stephen J. Cavenagh 12,782 22.4 −5.0
Liberal Democrat Mrs Juliana M.J. Hughes 5,353 9.4 −3.9
Majority 2,922 5.1 −2.9
Turnout 56,971 82.7 −0.1
Labour hold Swing −3.6

Elections in the 1980s

General Election, 1987: Carmarthen[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Wynne Williams 19,128 35.37
Conservative Rod Richards 14,811 27.39
Plaid Cymru HT Edwards 12,457 23.03
SDP–Liberal Alliance GG Jones 7,203 13.32
Green GE Oubridge 481 0.89
Majority 4,317 7.98
Turnout 54,080 82.88
General Election, 1983: Carmarthen[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Thomas 16,459 31.57%
Conservative NM Thomas 15,305 29.36%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 14,099 27.05%
SDP–Liberal Alliance J Colin 5,737 11.01%
Ecology B Kingzett 374 0.72%
BNP Charlie Grice 154 0.3%
Majority 1,154 2.21%
Turnout 52,126 82.13%

Elections in the 1970s

General Election, 1979: Carmarthen[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Thomas 18,667 35.87%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 16,689 32.04%
Conservative NM Thomas 12,272 23.56%
Liberal RCC Thomas 4,186 8.04%
National Front Charlie Grice 149 0.29%
New Britain EJ Clarke 126 0.24%
Majority 1,978 3.8%
Turnout 52,086 84.40%
General Election, (October) 1974: Carmarthen[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 23,325 45.11%
Labour Gwynoro Jones 19,685 38.07%
Liberal DR Owen-Jones 5,393 10.43%
Conservative Robert Hayward 2,962 5.73%
British Candidate EB Jones 342 0.66%
Majority 3,640 7.04%
Turnout 51,704 85.6%
General Election, (February) 1974: Carmarthen[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwynoro Jones 17,165 34.29%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 17,162 34.28%
Liberal DO Jones 9,698 19.37%
Conservative WJN Dunn 6,037 12.06%
Majority 3 0.01%
Turnout 83.49%
General Election 1970: Carmarthen[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwynoro Jones 18,719 38.04%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 14,812 30.10%
Liberal HGE Thomas 10,707 21.76%
Conservative LH Davies 4,975 10.11%
Majority 3,907 7.94%
Turnout 49,214 83.55%

Elections in the 1960s

Carmarthen by-election, 1966
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 16,179 38.98
Labour Gwilym Prys Davies 13,743 33.11
Liberal Hywel Davies 8,650 20.84
Conservative Simon Day 2,934 7.09
Majority 2,436 5.87
Turnout
Plaid Cymru gain from Labour Swing
General Election 1966: Carmarthen[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lady Megan Lloyd George 21,221 46.17% +0.71%
Liberal DH Davies 11,988 26.08% -6.2%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 7,416 16.13% +4.47%
Conservative SJ Day 5,338 11.61% +1.01%
Majority 9,233 20.09% +6.9%
Turnout 45,960 82.56% -1.91%
General Election 1964: Carmarthen[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 21,424 45.46% -2.43%
Liberal Alun Talfan Davies 15,210 32.28% -2.04%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 5,495 11.66% +6.45%
Conservative HE Protheroe-Beynon 4,996 10.6% -1.98
Majority 6,214 13.19% -0.39%
Turnout 47,122 84.47% -0.95%

Elections in the 1950s

General Election 1959: Carmarthen[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 23,399 47.89% +5.16%
Liberal Alun Talfan Davies 16,766 34.32% -15.17%
Conservative JB Evans 6,147 12.58%
Plaid Cymru HH Roberts 2,545 5.21%
Majority 6,633 13.58% +6.82%
Turnout 48,855 85.42% +0.32%
Carmarthen by-election, 1957
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 23,679
Liberal John Morgan Davies 20,610
Plaid Cymru Jennie Eirian Davies 5,741
Majority 3,069
Turnout 43,726 87.4
Labour gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1955: Carmarthen[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 24,410 49.49% -0.97%
Labour Jack Evans 21,077 42.73% -6.81%
Plaid Cymru Jennie Eirian Davies 3,835 7.78%
Majority 3,333 6.76% +5.84
Turnout 49,320 85.10% -1.42%
General Election 1951: Carmarthen[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 25,632 50.46% +0.27%
Labour D Owen 25,165 49.54% -0.65%
Majority 467 0.92% +0.54%
Turnout 5,0795 86.52% +3.09%
General Election 1950: Carmarthen[24]:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 24,472 50.19% -1.48
Labour AL Ungoed-Thomas 24,285 49.81% +1.48
Majority 187 0.38% -2.96
Turnout 48,759 83.43% +7.32

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Carmarthen[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 19,783 51.67%
Labour RM Hughes 18,504 48.33%
Majority 1,279 3.34%
Turnout 38,286 76.11%

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1931: Carmarthen
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Capt. Richard Thomas Evans 15,532
Labour Maj. Daniel Hopkin MC 14,318
Conservative Lt-Col. D W C Davies-Evans 9,434
Majority
Liberal gain from Labour Swing
Turnout

Notes and references

  1. ^ BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/128.stm. 
  2. ^ The BBC article quoted above says that is was the second closest General Election result since the Second World War. Certainly the Winchester general election result of 1997 was closer.
  3. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.12 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  4. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.202 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/carmarthen-boroughs. Retrieved 2011-11-26. 
  6. ^ Watkin, Thomas Glyn (January 2008). "Aubrey, William (c.1529–1595)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online edition, subscription required). Oxford University Press. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/887. Retrieved 2008-02-24. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/constituencies/carmarthen-boroughs. Retrieved 2011-11-26. 
  8. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 2)
  9. ^ On petition, Magens was found not to have been duly elected, and his opponent Phillips was seated in his place
  10. ^ Created a baronet, 1871
  11. ^ Succeeded to baronetcy, 1877
  12. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm. Retrieved 6 Dec 2010. 
  13. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge87/i05.htm
  14. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge83/i05.htm
  15. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge79/i05.htm
  16. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge74b/i05.htm
  17. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge74a/i05.htm
  18. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge70/i05.htm
  19. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge66/i05.htm
  20. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge64/i05.htm
  21. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge59/i05.htm
  22. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge55/i05.htm
  23. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge51/i05.htm
  24. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge50/i05.htm
  25. ^ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge45/i05.htm

Sources