1931 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1931.[1] It was preceded by the 1928 election and followed by the 1934 election.

1931 Carmarthenshire County Council election

← 1928
1934 →

All 53 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council
27 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Liberal Conservative Labour
Seats won 0/53 0/53 0/53

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Independent Liberal Unionist
Seats won 1/51 0/51

Council control after election

TBD

Overview of the result

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The Independent group remained the majority grouping on the Council. In the Llanelli area the potential for Labour to win further ground was complicated by the appearance of Communist Party candidates.

Boundary changes

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There was one boundary change, namely the division of the existing Llandybie ward into two divisions, each of which was won by Labour.

Summary of results

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Only a minority of the 53 divisions were contested. 53 councillors were elected.

Ward results

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Abergwili

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Abergwili 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford

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Ammanford 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David George* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Bettws

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Bettws 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Phillips* 1,379
Independent D.M. Richards 800
Independent hold Swing

Caio

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Caio 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Isaac Williams* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

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Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Katherine Isobel Harries unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

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Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lewis David Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

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Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent H.S. Holmes* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

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Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Price Williams* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cenarth

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Cenarth 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ellenora James* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm

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Cilycwm 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivor Elystan Campbell-Davys* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Conwil

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Conwil 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Kidwelly

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Kidwelly 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alfred Stephens* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Laugharne

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Laugharne 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Stephen Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney

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Llanarthney 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Stephens* 1,561
Labour Thomas Thomas 604
Independent hold Swing

Llanboidy

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Llanboidy 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent C. Vaughan* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North

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Boundary Change

Llandebie North 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas 552
Independent David O. Davies 403
Independent Frederick Davies 225
Majority
Labour win (new seat)

Llandebie South

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Boundary Change

Llandebie South 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D.B. Lewis* unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Llandilo Rural

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Llandilo Rural 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Evan Davies* 560
Independent John Henry James 424
Independent Owen Jones 169
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban

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Llandilo Urban 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lord Dynevor* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery

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Llandovery 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Harry Vaughan Watkins* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio

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Llandyssilio 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edward James* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy

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Llanedy 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T.J. Parry-Jones* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad

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Llanegwad 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William David Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 1

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Llanelly Division 1 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Daniel Roberts* 1,047
Labour S.T. Vicary 257
Communist A. Evans 51
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2

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Llanelly Division 2 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Brinley R. Jones* 488
Independent James Jones 371
Labour John Roberts 323
Independent Elizabeth Thomas 49
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 3

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Llanelly Division 3 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joseph Roberts* 521
Labour Percy M. Evans 252
Communist Brin Jones 55
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 4

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Llanelly Division 4 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.T. Morris* 670
Labour Thomas Charles 624
Communist William Morris 50
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 5

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Llanelly Division 5 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gwen Trubshaw* 621
Labour Mary M. Griffiths 174
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 6

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Llanelly Division 6 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Douglas Hughes 636
Independent Agnes H. Evans 334
Communist Enoch Collins 51
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7

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Llanelly Division 7 1928
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W. Powell Rees* 806
Labour David John 184
Communist Henry Jones 16
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 8

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Llanelly Division 8 1928
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H.W. Bowen 515
Independent William Davies* 377
Communist Enoch Collins 28
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Berwick

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Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Harry 999
Labour J.R. Jones* 680
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

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Joe Howells stood as an Independent against the official Labour candidate and won by a very narrow margin.

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joseph Howells* 436
Independent D.J. Stone 420
Labour John Harris 398
Communist Arthur Evans 11
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

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Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jones* 998
Communist S. Edwards 180
Labour hold Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

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Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.J. Evans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

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Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent E. Haydn Davies* 709
Independent Mary P.A.E. Mansell 171
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llangadock

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Llangadock 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent R.E. Williams* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangeler

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Llangeler 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henry Jones unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangendeirne

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Llangendeirne 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Jenkins* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangennech

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Llangennech 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D.J. Davies 570
Independent David J. Jones* 548
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llangunnor

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Llangunnor 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Edwards* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanon

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Llanon 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rees Morgan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel

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Llansawel 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Evan Harris* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan

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Llanstephan 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent T.Ll. Haries 369
Independent John James Bowen* 355
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther

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Llanybyther 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Evan Morgan Evans 562
Independent W. James Williams* 527
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai

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Myddfai 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey North

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Pembrey North 1928
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gomer Evans 1.095
Independent David Evans* 455
Communist Brin Jones 79
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pembrey South

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Pembrey South 1928
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Henry Williams* 994
Independent Daniel Davies 293
Communist Henry Jones 22
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Quarter Bach

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Quarter Bach 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jones* 886
Independent Gomer Harries 680
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai

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Rhydcymmerai 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gwendoline Lloyd-Price* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Clears

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St Clears 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joseph David Rees* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmael

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St Ishmael 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Walter Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Trelech

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Trelech 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lewis L. Bowen* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Whitland

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Whitland 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Lewis Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Election of aldermen

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In addition to the 53 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected. Eight were retiring aldermen (some of whom had not fought an election for many years) while Joseph Roberts had been re-elected in Llanelly Division 3.[2]

  • T.R. Jones, Cross Hall
  • James Phillips, St Clears
  • Philip Phillips, Pencraig
  • W.R. Rogers, Closyfran
  • Rev William Thomas, Llanboidy
  • David Davies, Rhyblid
  • John Thomas, Llanelli
  • Joseph Roberts, Llanelli
  • W.N.Jones, Ammanford

In addition, W.D. Davies, recently re-elected unopposed for the Llanegwad division, was elevated to the aldermanic bench following the death of L.N. Powell.[2]

By-elections 1931-1934

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1931 Llanegwad by-election

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A by-election was scheduled for March 1931 following the elevation of W.D. Davies to the aldermanic bench. B. Davies of Glancothi was elected unopposed in his place.[3]

Llanegwad by-election March 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent B. Davies unopposed
Independent hold Swing

1931 Llanelly Division 3 by-election

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A by-election was held in April due to the elevation of Joseph Roberts to the aldermanic bench. Strong objections were raised in the local press to the prospect of several Independent candidates contesting the vacancy,[4] and these fears were realised when Labour candidate Percy Evans headed the poll with around a third of the votes cast.[5] Gomer Thomas, chosen as an official candidate by the Ratepayers' Association, polled only 89 votes.

Llanelly Division 3 by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Percy M. Evans 389
Independent D. Haddon Jones 296
Independent James Jones 248
Independent Gomer Thomas 89
Independent Elizabeth Thomas 10
Independent hold Swing

1932 Llandissilio by-election

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A by-election was held in December 1932 following the elevation of Edward James to the aldermanic bench. Henry Morris, a mamber of Whitland RDC for 28 years, was elected by a narrow majority[6]

1932 Llandissilio by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henry Morris 285
Independent Rev W.S. Thomas 269
Independent hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 9 March 1931.
  2. ^ a b "Carmarthenshire County Council. New Chairman and Vice-Chairman". Welshman. 20 March 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Nodion Min y Ffordd". Welshman (in Welsh). 10 April 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  4. ^ "The County Council Vacancy (editorial)". Llanelly Star. 21 March 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ^ "County Council By-Election Fiasco. Independents Throw Away a Seat". Llanelly Star. 25 April 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  6. ^ "County Council By-Election". Welshman. 16 December 1932. p. 8. Retrieved 24 July 2024.