1931 Carmarthenshire County Council election explained

Election Name:1931 Carmarthenshire County Council election
Country:Wales
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Majority Seats:27
Seats1:0/53
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Seats2:0/53
Party3:Labour Party (UK)
Seats3:0/53
Party4:Independent
Seats4:1/51
Party5:Liberal Unionist
Seats5:0/51
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after 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.

Overview of the result

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

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

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

Ward results

Llandebie North

Boundary Change

Llandebie South

Boundary Change

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

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

Whitland

Election of aldermen

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]

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.

By-elections 1931-1934

1931 Llanegwad by-election

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]

1931 Llanelly Division 3 by-election

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.

1932 Llandissilio by-election

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]

Notes and References

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