The fourth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held on 1 May 2012.[1] It was preceded by the 2008 election and will be followed by the 2017 election. The main feature of the election was a Labour recovery in the Llanelli area, and to some extent in the Gwendraeth and Ammanford area also, mainly at the expense of Independent candidates. Plaid Cymru lost ground to labour in the Llanelli area but gained seats elsewhere, becoming the largest party. An Independent-Labour coalition was again formed but with Labour as the leading partner. As a result, Kevin Madge replaced Meryl Gravell as the leader of the council.
Overview
Carmarthenshire County Council election result 2012 |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Labour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conservative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Labour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratepayers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Results
Abergwili 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Pamela Ann Palmer* |
600 |
57.9 |
-18.5 |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Dewi Richard Evans |
436 |
42.1 |
+18.5 |
Majority |
164 |
15.8 |
-37.0 |
Turnout |
|
56.5 |
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
18.5 |
|
Deian Harries had come within six votes of victory for Plaid Cymru in 2008. The sitting Labour member, Hugh Evans, a member of the authority since its formation in 1995, stood down and Plaid Cymru captured the seat.
Betws (one seat)
Labour, which had held the seat from 1995 until 2008, came from third place to recapture Betws with a new candidate
Betws 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Ryan Bartlett |
325 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Eira Audrey Jones* |
274 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Annette Price |
155 |
|
|
Majority |
51 |
|
|
Turnout |
|
44.3 |
|
|
Labour gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Bigyn (two seats)
Labour, having held all seats in Bigyn from 1995 until 2008, regained both on a low turnout. Eryl Morgan was previously county councillor for Hengoed.
Pat Jones, a member of the authority since 1999, was re-elected alongside another Labour candidate who narrowly ousted the sitting Independent member, who had served since 2004. The Conservative candidate had stood as a Liberal Democrat in 1999.
Bynea (one seat)
On a very low turnout, Labour came from third place to take a seat held by the Independent candidate, a member of the cabinet, since 2004.
Bynea 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Deryk Michael Cundy |
445 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Gwynne Harris Woolridge* |
328 |
|
|
|
People First |
Michelle Williams |
179 |
|
|
Majority |
117 |
|
|
Turnout |
|
23.6 |
|
|
Labour gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Plaid Cymru again held both seats, for the third successive election.
Plaid Cymru held both seats in this ward for the first time, unseating an Independent member who had served for one term. Jeffrey Thomas had represented Carmarthen North from 2004 until 2008.
Plaid Cymru completed a clean sweep of all seats in Carmarthen Town by ousting Arthur Davies, a leading figure in People First, former Labour councillor and a member of the authority since 1999.
Carmarthen Town West 2008 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Alan Douglas Thomas Speake* |
888 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Tom Talog Defis |
658 |
|
|
|
People First |
Arthur Davies* |
512 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Barry Williams |
261 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Marc Scaife |
123 |
|
|
Turnout |
|
34.0 |
|
|
Plaid Cymru hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru gain from People First |
Swing |
|
|
Hazel Evans had captured the seat in a by-election following the death of the previous Independent member, Haydn Jones.
Tom Theophilus, who had represented the area for decades narrowly held the seat against one of the most prominent opponents of the previous administration and a leading critic of Mark James, the Chief Executive of the Council.
Cilycwm 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Thomas Theophilus* |
307 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Jacqui Thomapson |
264 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Matthew Graham Paul |
136 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Irfon Jones had represented Newchurch from 1995 until 1999 but was defeated by Dorrien Thomas when the enlarged Cynwyl Elfed ward was created following boundary changes. Thomas retired at this election and Jones won a narrow victory over Plaid Cymru.
Cynwyl Elfed 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Henry Irfon Jones |
678 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Glyn Evans |
631 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Clarke Atkinson |
149 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Eirwyn Williams, a member of the authority since 1995, was comfortably re-elected.
Dafen (one seat)
Labour won by a large majority although Plaid Cymru's vote may have been affected by the decision of their former candidate, Clem Thomas, to stand for People First.
Dafen 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Tegwen Devichand* |
513 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Mohammad Alam Choudry |
178 |
|
|
|
People First |
Clem Thomas |
131 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Dai Hughes |
90 |
|
|
Majority |
130 |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Elli (one seat)
One-time Conservative John Paul Jenkins was returned with a much increased majority in a seat which has traditionally changed hands on a regular basis. The Liberal Democrats who once held the seat failed to field a candidate.
The sitting member, first elected in 2004, held his seat against the former Labour member who was elected in 1995 and 1999.
Felinfoel 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
David Hugh Richards* |
258 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Henry John Evans |
215 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Malcolm Cotterell |
82 |
|
|
Majority |
43 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Labour's leader on the authority increased his majority.
The sitting Plaid member, who gained the seat in 2008, increased his majority.
In a ward that returned only Labour councillors from 1995 until 2008, Winston Lemon held his seat for Plaid Cymru and Labour regaied the second seat from the Independents. David Tucker, a Labour councillor before 2008 and Keith Skivington, who stood in 2008 for Plaid Cymru, both contested the eletion as Independents which made the contest more unpredictable.
Glanymor 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Winston James Lemon* |
571 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Louvain Roberts |
520 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Joanne Yeo |
485 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
John David Martin |
342 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Evan Jones* |
298 |
|
|
|
Independent |
David Allan Tucker |
240 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Keith Skivington |
108 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Labour gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Glyn (one seat)
Jim Jones, the representative since 1999, won by a large margin.
Glyn 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Thomas James Jones* |
520 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Shahana Najmi |
126 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Tomos Lloyd-Evans |
97 |
|
|
Majority |
394 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Terry Davies, the member since 2004, held one seat but the second seat was captured by Pliad Cymru, their first success in the ward. Clive Scourfield, the sitting Indepdendent, stood down and there were press reports that Rupert Moon, former Llanelli and wales scrum-half was his chosen successor. Scourfield denied this to be the case and Moon was unsuccessful as the Independent vote was fragmented.
Hendy (one seat)
Labour had gained this seat against the tide in 2008 and the result was now reversed.
Sian Caiach, who took a seat for Plaid Cymru, subsequently left the party and joined People First following an internal dispute. Plaid also lost the second seat to Labour in a closely fought contest.
Labour strengthened thie hold on a seat won against the tide in 2008.
Kidwelly 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Keith Davies* |
571 |
|
|
|
People First |
Huw Gilasbey |
300 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Fran Lloyd-Burke |
238 |
|
|
|
|
Ray Davies |
177 |
|
|
Majority |
271 |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Laugharne Township (one seat)
Jane Tremlett had held the seat since 2004 and held on by a large majority as there was no Conservative candidate as was the case in 2008.
Laugharne Township 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Jane Tremlett |
714 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Jean Myers |
228 |
|
|
Majority |
486 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Roy Llewellyn had been a county councillor since 1989 on the Dyfed and Carmarthenshire authorities. He was unopposed in 2008 but was run close on this occasion by an Independent, as had been the case in 2004.
Llanboidy 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Daniel James Roy Llewellyn* |
444 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Mark Davies |
393 |
|
|
Majority |
51 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru hold |
Swing |
|
|
On a high turnout, Wyn Evans was challenged for the first time for many years.
Llanddarog 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
William John Wyn Evans* |
516 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Simon David Martin |
444 |
|
|
Majority |
156 |
|
|
Turnout |
|
54.9 |
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llandeilo (one seat)
A close contest followed the retirement of Ieuan Jones, the member since 1999. The Conservative vote was much less than that achieved by Juliana Hughes in 2008.
Llandeilo 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Edward Gwynne Thomas |
476 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Mike Williams |
436 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
David Williams |
299 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Anthony Howard Frost |
66 |
|
|
Majority |
40 |
|
|
Turnout |
|
56.1 |
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Ivor Jackson had been unoppposed in 2008 but held the seat comfotably against three opponents.
Llandovery Town 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Ivor John Jackson* |
518 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Andrew David Morgan |
208 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Patricia Ann Dodd Racher |
167 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Gill Wright |
164 |
|
|
Majority |
310 |
|
|
Turnout |
|
50.1 |
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
The two sitting members were returned.
Llandybie 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Anthony Davies* |
909 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Anthony Wyn Jones* |
658 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Karen Denise Lawrence Davies |
489 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Nigel John Humphreys |
188 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Clifford Roy Johnson |
140 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Sandra May Morgan |
110 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanegwad (one seat)
Mansel Charles had stood as an Independent candidate at the previous election but had subsequently won the seat for Plaid Cymru at a by-election following the resignation of Independent councillor Dillwyn Williams.
Llanegwad and Llanfynydd 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
John Mansel Charles* |
612 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Clive Pugh |
508 |
|
|
Majority |
104 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanfihangel Aberbythych (one seat)
The sitting member, Rhys Davies stood down and the seat was won by Cefin Campbell, former director of Welsh language initiative, Mentrau Iaith Myrddin.
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth (one seat)
Llangadog (one seat)
Llangadog 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Andrew James |
475 |
|
|
|
Independent |
D. Huw Morgan* |
439 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Andre Jacob |
89 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llangeler (one seat)
Llangunnor (one seat)
Llangunnor 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Dewi Elwyn Williams |
573 |
|
|
|
Independent |
David John Watson |
395 |
|
|
Majority |
178 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Llangyndeyrn (one seat)
Llangyndeyrn 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
William Tyssul Evans* |
863 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Mark Brown |
162 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Robert Michael Beynon |
91 |
|
|
Majority |
701 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llansteffan 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Daff Davies* |
543 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Carys Jones |
538 |
|
|
Majority |
5 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanybydder (one seat)
Ieuan Davies comfortably regained the seat he lost in 2008.
Llanybydder 2008 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Ieuan Wyn Davies |
755 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Fiona Hughes* |
309 |
|
|
Majority |
446 |
|
|
|
Independent gain from Plaid Cymru |
Swing |
|
|
Lliedi (two seats)
Manordeilo and Salem (one seat)
Manordeilo and Salem 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Joseph Davies |
560 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Peter Eyre |
227 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Owen Williams |
96 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Penygroes (one seat)
Penygroes |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Siân Elisabeth Thomas* |
344 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Bob Gunstone |
338 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Aled Rees |
139 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Susan Freda Webb |
92 |
|
|
Majority |
6 |
|
|
Pontamman (one seat)
Quarter Bach (one seat)
St Clears (one seat)
St Clears |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Philip Morris Hughes* |
682 |
|
|
|
Independent |
William Edmund Vincent John Davies |
292 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Selwyn John Runnett |
273 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
St Ishmaels (one seat)
Saron (two seats)
Swiss Valley (one seat)
Swiss Valley |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Anthony Giles Morgan* |
430 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Bill Thomas |
276 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Rhydwyn Ifan |
207 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Trelech (one seat)
Trelech 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
William David Thomas* |
471 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Anthony Thomas |
321 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Lindsay Jane Runnett |
133 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Trimsaran 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Meryl Gravell* |
323 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Mark James |
222 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Ryan Thomas |
152 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Lynn Jones |
92 |
|
|
|
People First |
Dennis Simon Terrance Warwick |
17 |
|
|
Majority |
101 |
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
Tyisha (two seats)
Whitland 2012 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Independent |
Sue Allen* |
514 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Diane Evans |
230 |
|
|
|
Labour |
Steve Morris |
81 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Huw Llewelyn Jones |
17 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Independent hold |
Swing |
|
|
By-Elections 2012-2017
Trelech by-election 2014
A by-election was held in Trelech on 11 December 2014 following the retirement of long-serving Independent councillor Dai Thomas.[2]
Trelech 2014 by-election |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Plaid Cymru |
Jean Lewis |
598 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Hugh Phillips |
181 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Selwyn Runnett |
96 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru gain from Independent |
Swing |
|
|
Hengoed by-election 2015
A by-election was held in Hengoed on 19 February 2015 following the death of Labour councillor George Edwards.[3]
Hengoed by-election 2015 |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Penelope Margaret Edwards |
335 |
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
Martin Vaughan Davies |
313 |
|
|
|
UKIP |
Bramwell Gordon Richards |
152 |
|
|
|
People's Voice |
Wynford John Samuel |
80 |
|
|
|
Independent |
William Edward Skinner |
76 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Stephen Davies |
54 |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
References
Council elections in the preserved county of Dyfed |
---|
| Carmarthenshire County Council |
- 1889
- 1892
- 1895
- 1898
- 1901
- 1904
- 1907
- 1910
- 1913
- 1919
- 1922
- 1925
- 1928
- 1931
- 1934
- 1937
- 1946
- 1949
- 1952
- 1955
- 1958
- 1961
- 1964
- 1967
- 1970
- 1995
- 1999
- 2004
- 2008
- 2012
|
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| Ceredigion County Council | |
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| Pembrokeshire County Council |
- 1889
- 1892
- 1895
- 1898
- 1901
- 1904
- 1907
- 1910
- 1913
- 1919
- 1922
- 1925
- 1928
- 1931
- 1934
- 1937
- 1946
- 1949
- 1952
- 1955
- 1958
- 1961
- 1964
- 1967
- 1970
- 1995
- 1999
- 2004
- 2008
- 2012
|
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| Dyfed County Council | |
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| Carmarthen District Council | |
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| Dinefwr Borough Council | |
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| Llanelli Borough Council | |
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| Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council | |
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| South Pembrokeshire District Council | |
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|