1925 Glamorgan County Council election

The twelfth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1925. It was preceded by the 1922 election and followed by the 1928 election.

Overview of the Result

Having lost its majority at the 1922 elections, Labour regained control of the County Council by winning seven seats.[1]

Boundary Changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Candidates

16 councillors were returned unopposed.[2]

Of the eleven retiring aldermen, nine sought re-election. Seven of their number were returned unopposed; these included the chairman of the County Council, Daniel Daniels (Lib, Dulais Valley) after the sitting Labour councillor stood down in his favour.

Contested Elections

The pattern of contests was similar to 1922, although Labour contested some seats that it had not previously stood.[3]

Three retiring aldermen faced opposition. Rev D.H. Williams (Lib, Barry) faced a Labour opponent and the seat had been held by Labour since a 1919 by-election. W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower) faced an Independent opponent and in Caerphilly the sitting Independent stood down in favour of Joseph Howells though he faced a Labour challenge.

Outcome

Labour gained seven seats and lost only one, establishing a firm majority on the County Council.

Results

Aberaman

Rose Davies captured a seat previously held by a Liberal and became the first woman elected to the County Council.

Aberaman 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Florence Rose Davies 1,989
Independent Joseph Martin 1,786
Majority 203
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Aberavon

Aberavon 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward Lewis Hare* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Abercynon

Abercynon 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Johnson Dicks 2,158
Liberal Dr J. Llewelyn Morris* 1,975
Majority 183
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Thomas** Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bargoed

Bargoed 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.H. Hopkins 1,284
Independent Dr B.H.E. McCrae* 1,136
Majority 148
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Barry

Alderman D.H. Williams, chair of the Central Welsh Board of Education, comfortably won the seat but this was technically a Liberal gain from Labour who had held the seat since a by-election after Williams was re-elected as alderman in 1919.

Barry 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev D.H. Williams** 2,216
Labour B.B. Bembridge 734
Majority 1,482
Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Barry Dock

Barry Dock 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.M. Davies* Unopposed
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William J. Edwards 1,189
Independent H. Cowen 787
Majority 402
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Bridgend

Bridgend 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dapho Llewellyn Powell** Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour G. Gethin 1,800
Conservative M.G. Roberts* 1,562
Majority 243
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Cadoxton

Cadoxton 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J.R. Llewellyn* Unopposed
Majority
Conservative hold Swing

Caerphilly

Alderman Joseph Howells won the seat after the sitting Independent councillor withdrew in his favour.

Caerphilly 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Howells** 2,067
Labour Evan Phillips 1,477
Majority 610
Liberal gain from Independent Swing

Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dan Rees* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc

W.T. Jenkins had previously stood as an Independent but now declared himself a Labour supporter.[4]

Coedffranc 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Phillip Jenkins 2,007
Independent Ogley L. David 1,893
Majority 114
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colonel H.R. Homfray* 2,139
Labour Johnson Miles 639
Majority 1,500
Conservative hold Swing

Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1922
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hubert Jenkins* Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Jones Edwards* Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Cymmer

Cymmer 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Watts-Morgan* Unopposed
Labour hold

Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claude D. Thompson* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Dulais Valley

Alderman Daniel Daniels of Crynant, chairman of the County Council, was returned unopposed after the sitting Labour councillor did not contest the seat. This was technically a Liberal gain.

Dulais Valley 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Daniels** Unopposed
Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Ferndale

Ferndale 1922
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jabez Davies* Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Gadlys

Gadlys 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal T. Marchant Harries* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Glyncorrwg

Glyncorrwg 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins** Unopposed
Labour hold

Gower

Gower 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Frederick W. Davies* 1,634
Labour William Henry Davies** 1,441
Majority 193
Independent hold Swing

Hengoed

Hengoed 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Richards* 1,216
Labour E. Jenkins 995
Majority 221
Liberal hold Swing

Hopkinstown

Hopkinstown 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E.H. Fleming** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kibbor

Henry Lewis again returned after many years.

Kibbor 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lewis* 1,035
Liberal D. Morgan Rees 379
Majority 656
Conservative hold Swing

Llandaff

Llandaff 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lewis Lougher* Unopposed
Conservative hold

Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Caradog Jones 1,190
Independent Llewellyn Davies 957
Majority 233
Labour hold Swing

Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Phillips* 1,360
Liberal Arthur Hopkins 1,175
Majority 185
Labour hold Swing

Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Morgan Llewellyn* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llwynypia and Clydach

James Evans, grocer, elected following Richard Lewis's election as alderman in 1901, was returned unopposed.

Llwynypia and Clydach 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Evans* unopposed

Loughor

The sitting member had been elected as a Liberal in 1922.

Loughor 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas J. Thomas* 1,582
Labour William Evans 1,534
Majority 48
Independent hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1922
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Evans* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas E. Hopkins* 1,881
Labour E. Barnett 1,026
Majority 855
Independent hold Swing

Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Lord Aberdare* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Griffith Davies* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick William Gibbins* Unopposed
Liberal hold

Newcastle

Newcastle 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E.H. Mole* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David J. Thomas* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Penarth North

Penarth North 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Hallett 655
Labour Peter Freeman 646
Majority 9
Conservative hold Swing

Penarth South

Penarth South 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samuel Thomas* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Pencoed

Pencoed 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.A. Howell** Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E.O. James 2,740
Liberal Dr. Ben Phillips-Jones* 2,289
Majority 451
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Pentre

Pentre 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Alfred Thomas* 1,542
Labour T.T. Andrews 1,076
Majority 486
Liberal hold Swing

Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Daniel Davies* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontyclun

Pontyclun 1922
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Jenkins* 1,718
Labour D. Harris 623
Majority 1,095
Conservative hold Swing

Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Thomas* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewelyn David**
Independent hold Swing

Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sir Thomas Jones* 1,644
Labour Thomas Woods 1,340
Majority 255
Independent hold Swing

Pontlottyn

Pontlottyn 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Hammond* Unopposed
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Pontycymmer

Pontycymmer 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jonathan Maddocks 1,654
Labour J. Jones 1,610
Majority 44
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Pontypridd

Pontypridd 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fleming 602
Liberal James Roberts* 398
Conservative H.M. Gregory 383
Majority 204
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Penygraig

Penygraig 1922
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nefydd Thomas Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Porth

Porth 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Evans* Unopposed
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Richard Thomas* 2,300
Labour J.L. Rees 1,622
Majority 678
Independent hold Swing

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Arthur Jones* 1,496
Independent Morgan Lloyd Griffiths 882
Independent Levi Morgan 191
Majority 614
Labour hold Swing

Treforest

Trealaw 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Enoch Treharne Unopposed
Majority
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Treforest

The sitting member had been elected as a Liberal in 1922.

Treforest 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur James Chick 1,488
Independent John Thomas Rees* 1,164
Majority 324
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Treherbert

Enoch Davies, returned in 1901 following William Morgan's re-election as alderman, was elected unopposed.

Treherbert 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Enoch Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Treorchy

Thomas Jones, Co-operative stores manager, was returned unopposed.

Treorchy 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Tylorstown

Tylorstown 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr T.H. Morris* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Vale of Neath

Vale of Neath 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D.H. Jones* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Ynyshir

Ynyshir 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Dalling* 996
Independent Labour William Thomas 985
Liberal D. Lewis Daniel 715
Majority 11
Liberal hold Swing

Ystalyfera

D.W. Davies regained the seat he lost three years previously.

Ystalyfera 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D.W. Davies 1,527
Labour Daniel T. Jones* 1,153
Majority 374
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Ystrad

Ystrad 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr W.E. Thomas* 1,818
Labour J. Davies 1,183
Majority 635
Liberal hold Swing

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1925 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which were filled by Labour nominees (including one long-serving Liberal).[5] These included the first woman elected to the Council, Rose Davies (Aberaman).

The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:

  • E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown)
  • William Jenkins (Lab, Glyncorrwg)
  • David Lewis (Lab, Tylorstown)
  • Rev D.H. Williams (Lib, Barry)

In addition, the following seven new aldermen were elected:

  • David Daniel Davies (Lab, Pontardawe)
  • Rose Davies (Lab, Aberaman)
  • John Evans (Lan, Maesteg)
  • Johnson Dicks (Lab, Abercynon)
  • Caradoc Jones (Lab, Llandeilo Talybont)
  • John Phillips (Lab, Llanfabon)
  • John Thomas (Lab, Port Talbot)

The following retiring aldermen were re-elected as members of the Council but were not re-elected as aldermen:

  • Llewellyn David (Ind, Port Talbot)
  • Daniel Daniels (Lib, Dulais Valley)
  • Joseph Howells (Lib, Caerphilly)
  • William Thomas (Lib, Aberdare)

By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

Aberaman by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Abercynon by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Barry by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Glyncorrwg by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Hopkinstown by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llandeilo Talybont by-election

Llandeilo Talybont
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewellyn Davies 1,501
Labour J. Powell 1,378
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanfabon by-election

Llanfabon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Bowen 1,338
Independent William Hopkins 1,189
Majority 149
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pontardawe by-election

Pontardawe by-election 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Williams Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Tylorstown by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

References

  1. ^ "Seven Seats Won. Supremacy Regained After Three Years". Western Mail. 7 March 1925. p. 11. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. ^ "County Council Elections. Unopposed Returns in Glamorgan". Western Mail. 26 February 1925. p. 14. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Welsh County Elections. Polling Somewhat Featureless. Labour Gains". Western Mail. 6 March 1925. p. 11. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Other Glamorgan Results". Western Mail. 7 March 1925. p. 7. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. ^ "County Council Honours. Chairman and Vice-Chairman Re-elected. Labour Aldermen". Western Mail. 13 March 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

Bibliography

  • Williams, Chris (1996). Democratic Rhondda: Politics and society 1885-1951. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.