1967 Glamorgan County Council election explained

The 1967 Glamorgan County Council election was held on Thursday 13 April 1967 in the county of Glamorgan, Wales, to elect members to Glamorgan County Council. The previous full council elections were in 1964[1] and the final elections to the council would come in 1970.

Overview of the result

The Labour Party lost nine seats at this election but retained a strong majority with 50 councillors, as well as the support of 22 Labour aldermen. Plaid Cymru representation returned to the council after their candidates beat Labour in two seats, with the victorious candidate in Ferndale being afterwards carried down the road by supporters. The Liberal Party won two seats, their first on the council. One seat was won by Ratepayers, also their first on the council. The Conservative Party won two seats, as did the Communist Party. In Hengoed, the previously sitting Labour councillor, who had been expelled from the party prior to the election, was returned as an Independent Labour councillor.

Both the Labour and Conservative spokespersons described the swing against Labour as being a result of national issues, with the UK Labour government at that time becoming less popular.

Ward results

Contests took place in thirty electoral wards:[2]

Ferndale

Councillor James had lost the seat to Labour at the 1964 elections. Following his victory he was carried down the street outside the North Road School polling station by "excited" supporters.

Gower

Councillor Keal became the first Liberal councillor in the area since World War II.

Hengoed

Councillor Blatchford had represented the seat for 7 years for the Labour Party, but was expelled for opposing the official candidate, so stood and won as an Independent.

Maesteg

Gibbs had missed winning the seat, by only 3 votes, in the 1964 election.

Ystrad (Rhondda)

Notes and References

  1. News: Big shocks for Labour in Glamorgan elections . . 14 April 1967 . 11 .
  2. News: Big shocks for Labour in Glamorgan elections - How They Voted . South Wales Echo . 14 April 1967 . 11 .