The Constituency
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
From the ‘Wales Year Book’ with permission of Dr Dennis Balsom
The Constituency of Carmarthen east and Dinefwr was formed when the Boundary Commission divided the former county seat of Carmarthen. A constituency with one of the most colourful political histories in Wales, it’s previous MP’s for Carmarthen included Lady Megan Lloyd George and the first Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales M.P. Gwynfor Evans. The new eastern division still has a large rural population, but the addition of part of the Amman Valley, the old anthracite coalfield, intensified the political balance.
The General election in 2001 saw a fierce contest between Adam Price, one of the Plaid Cymru’s brightest young candidates and Alan Williams, the sitting M.P.. The competitiveness of the contest overcame the general level of voter apathy and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr recorded the third highest turnout in Wales and saw the election of Adam Price as the new M.P..
Plaid Cymru won the Assembly seat in 1999 to return Rhodri Glyn Thomas as the new AM and he comfortably retained his seat in 2003. Again the intensity of the contest gave Carmarthen East and Dinefwr one of the highest turnouts of the election.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Carmarthenshire County electoral divisions: (Population 52,741)
Abergwili, Ammanford, Betws, Cenarth, Cilycwm, Cynwyl Gaeo, Garnant, Glanamman, Gorslas, Llanddarog, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llandybie, Llanegwad, Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Llangadog, Llangeler, Llangunnor, Llangyndeyrn, Llanybydder, Manordeilo and Salem, Penygroes, Pontamman, Quarter Bach, St.Ishmael, Saron.
2010 General Election
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Edwards | Plaid Cymru | 13,546 | 35.6 |
| Christine Gwyther | Labour Party | 10,065 | 25.5 |
| Andrew Morgan | Conservative Party | 8,506 | 22.4 |
| William Powell | Liberal Democrats | 4,609 | 12.1 |
| John Atkinson | UK Independence Party | 1,285 | 3.4 |
| PC Majority | 3,481 | 9.2 | |
| Turnout | 38,011 | 72.6 |
2005 General Election
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | +/-% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Price | Plaid Cymru | 17,561 | 45.9 | +3.5 |
| Ross Hendry | Labour Party | 10,843 | 28.3 | -7.3 |
| Suzy Davies | Conservative Party | 5,235 | 13.7 | +0.8 |
| Julianna Hughes | Liberal Democrats | 3,719 | 9.7 | +2.3 |
| Mike Squires | UK Independence Party | 661 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Sid Whitworth | Legalise Cannabis Alliance | 272 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| PC Majority | 6,718 | 17.5 | ||
| Turnout | 38,291 | 71.6 | +1.2 |
2001 General Election
| Adam Price | Plaid Cymru | 16,130 | 42.35 % |
| Dr Alan Williams | Labour Party | 13,540 | 35.55 % |
| David Thomas | Conservative Party | 4,912 | 12.90 % |
| Dorian Evans | Liberal Democrats | 2,850 | 7.48 % |
| Mike Squires | UK Independence Party | 656 | 1.72 % |
| PC Majority | 2,590 | ||
1997 General Election (old Boundaries)
| Williams, A. | Labour Party | 17,907 | 42.91 % |
| Thomas, R. | Plaid Cymru | 14,457 | 34.64 % |
| Hayward, E. | Conservative Party | 5,022 | 12.03 % |
| Hughes, J. | Liberal Democrats | 3,150 | 7.55 % |
| Humphries-Evans, I. | Referendum Party | 1,196 | 2.87 % |
| Lab Majority | 3,450 |