Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801–1997 and 2024 onwards
Caerfyrddin (Welsh: [kairˈvərðɪn] ), also known as Carmarthen , is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament , first contested at the 2024 United Kingdom general election , following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies .
It previously existed between 1918 and 1997 under the English version of the name, Carmarthen . Prior to this a "Carmarthen Boroughs " existed from 1832 to 1918, as well as two county constituencies, of East Carmarthenshire and West Carmarthenshire .
Between 1997 and 2024 the county was divided between Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire .
History
Because the seat contained mining areas in the valley of the River Gwendraeth (until the 1980s), much countryside and a high proportion of Welsh speakers, it was fertile territory for the Labour Party , the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru alike. Although the Conservatives never won the seat, they came within 1200 votes of doing so in 1983 .
Carmarthen is notable as the first constituency to elect a Plaid Cymru MP, Gwynfor Evans , at a 1966 by-election . Evans was later involved in one of the closest General Election results ever in February 1974 , when he lost to the Labour candidate by only three votes.[ 2] [ 3] The constituency also shot to fame in the following election in October 1974 as the only seat in the country to see its turnout rise on that of February 1974.
Boundaries
In 1918, the borough constituency was abolished (as well as East and West Carmarthenshire ), but the name "Carmarthen" was transferred to one of the divisions of the county of Carmarthenshire . The new constituency was made up of the whole of the county of Carmarthenshire except for the new Llanelli constituency (the urban area around Llanelli ). Notable towns were Carmarthen itself, Ammanford and Llandeilo .
In 1997, the Boundary Commission for Wales recommended an extra seat for Dyfed .[ 4] This led to the seat being split two to one between Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire .[ 5]
The constituency was re-established as Caerfyrddin as part of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and under the June 2023 final proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the 2024 United Kingdom general election .[ 6]
Members of Parliament
1918–1997: county constituency
MPs since 2024
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire prior to 2024.
Elections
Carmarthen – Carmarthen East and Dinefwr election results
Elections in the 20th century
Elections in the 1910s
Elections in the 1920s
Hinds
Sir Alfred Mond
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1940s
Elections in the 1950s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 21st century
Elections in the 2020s
Notes and references
^ Mrs Justice Jefford ; Thomas, Huw Vaughan; Hartley, Sam A (June 2023). "Appendix 1: Recommended Constituencies" (PDF) . The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales . Cardiff: Boundary Commission for Wales. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-5286-3901-9 . Retrieved 13 July 2024 .
^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Carmarthen East & Dinefwr" . BBC News .
^ The BBC article quoted above says that it was the second closest General Election result since the Second World War. But the Winchester general election result of 1997 was closer.
^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.12 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.202 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies – The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF) . Boundary Commission for Wales . 28 June 2023.
^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 2)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k Craig, F. W. S. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (1 ed.). Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-019 . Page 551
^ Etholiadau'r ganrif 18885-1997, Beti Jones
^ "UK General Election results: July 1945 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 2 May 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: February 1950 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ a b c d e f g h i Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British parliamentary election results 1950–1970 (1 ed.). Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 9780900178023 . Page 570
^ "UK General Election results: October 1951 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: May 1955 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: October 1959 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: October 1964 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: March 1966 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results 1970 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: February 1974 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: October 1974 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: May 1979 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "UK General Election results: June 1983 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "Election Data 1987" . Electoral Calculus . Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017 .
^ "UK General Election results: June 1987 [Archive]" . www.politicsresources.net . Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2010 .
^ "Election Data 1992" . Electoral Calculus . Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017 .
^ "Politics Resources" . Election 1992 . Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010 .
^ "Caerfyrddin – General election 2024" . BBC News. Retrieved 27 June 2024 .
External links