Caerfyrddin (constituency)

"Carmarthen (UK Parliament constituency)" redirects here. For the pre 1918 Carmarthen borough constituencies, see Carmarthen (1542–1918 UK Parliament constituency).
Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen)
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
Boundary of Caerfyrddin in Wales
Preserved countyDyfed
Electorate72,683 (March 2020)[1]
Major settlementsCarmarthen, Ammanford, Llandeilo
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentAnn Davies (Plaid Cymru)
SeatsOne
Created fromCarmarthen East & Dinefwr and Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire
1918–1997
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromWest Carmarthenshire, East Carmarthenshire and Carmarthen Boroughs
Replaced byCarmarthen East & Dinefwr and Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire

Caerfyrddin (Welsh: [kaːɨrˈvərðɪn]), also known as Carmarthen (English: /kərˈmɑːrðən/ kər-MAR-dhən), is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament, first contested at the 2024 general election, following the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies. It is currently represented by Ann Davies of Plaid Cymru.

In the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the name is given as Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen).[2] Of the twenty-five Welsh constituencies with names in both English and Welsh, Caerfyrddin is the only one where the Welsh name comes first followed by the English name in brackets (in each of the other cases, the opposite is true). Caerfyrddin is the form used by the UK Parliament.[3]

A similar constituency existed between 1918 and 1997 under the name Carmarthen.

Boundaries

Under the 2023 review, the constituency was defined as being composed of the following wards of the County of Carmarthenshire, as they existed on 1 December 2020:[2]

  • Abergwili; Ammanford; Betws; Carmarthen Town North; Carmarthen Town South; Carmarthen Town West; Cenarth; Cilycwm; Cynwyl Elfed; Cynwyl Gaeo; Garnant; Glanamman; Laugharne Township; Llanboidy; Llanddarog; Llandeilo; Llandovery; Llandybie; Llanegwad; Llanfihangel Aberbythych; Llanfihangel-ar-Arth; Llangadog; Llangeler; Llangunnor; Llansteffan; Llanybydder; Manordeilo and Salem; Penygroes; Pontamman; Quarter Bach; St. Clears; Saron; Trelech; and Whitland.

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2022,[4] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the County of Carmarthenshire from the 2024 general election:[5]

  • Abergwili; Ammanford; Betws; Carmarthen Town North and South; Carmarthen Town West; Cenarth and Llangeler; Cilycwm; Cwarter Bach; Cynwyl Elfed; Garnant; Glanamman; Laugharne Township; Llanboidy; Llanddarog; Llandeilo; Llandovery; Llandybie; Llanegwad; Llanfihangel Aberbythych; Llanfihangel-ar-Arth; Llangadog; Llangunnor; Llanybydder; Manordeilo and Salem; Penygroes; Saron; St. Clears and Llansteffan; Trelech; and Whitland.

History

The Parliamentary Borough of Carmarthen (made up of Carmarthen town and Llanelli) existed from 1542 to 1832 alongside the Parliamentary County of Carmarthenshire, each returning one member. Under the Great Reform Act of 1832, the Borough was expanded to include both Carmarthen town and Llanelli (known as the Carmarthen Boroughs), and the representation of the county was increased to two members. In 1885, Carmarthenshire was split into the two county constituencies of East Carmarthenshire and West Carmarthenshire with one member each.

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.[6] This led to the seat being split two to one between Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire.[7]

The constituency was re-established as Caerfyrddin as part of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies and under the June 2023 final proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales for the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[8]

Political 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.[9][10] 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.

Members of Parliament

1918–1997: county constituency

Election Member[11] Party
1918 John Hinds Coalition Liberal
1923 Sir Ellis Ellis-Griffith Liberal
1924 by-election Alfred Mond Liberal
1926 Conservative
1928 by-election William Nathaniel Jones Liberal
1929 Daniel Hopkin Labour
1931 Richard Thomas Evans Liberal
1935 Daniel Hopkin Labour
1941 by-election Moelwyn Hughes Labour
1945 Rhys Hopkin Morris Liberal
1957 by-election Megan Lloyd George Labour
1966 by-election Gwynfor Evans Plaid Cymru
1970 Gwynoro Jones Labour
Oct. 1974 Gwynfor Evans Plaid Cymru
1979 Roger Thomas Labour
1987 Alan Williams Labour
1997 constituency abolished: see Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and
Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire

MPs since 2024

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire prior to 2024.

Election Member[12] Party
2024 Ann Davies Plaid Cymru

Elections

Elections in the 20th century

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Carmarthen Boroughs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Liberal John Hinds Unopposed
Registered electors
Liberal hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Carmarthen[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Liberal John Hinds 12,530 41.9 N/A
Unionist George Coventry 8,805 29.4 N/A
National Farmers' Union David Johns 4,775 15.9 N/A
Liberal Hubert Llewelyn-Williams 3,847 12.8 N/A
Majority 3,725 12.5 N/A
Turnout 29,957 82.7 N/A
Registered electors 36,213
National Liberal gain from Liberal
General election 1923: Carmarthen[14][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ellis Ellis-Griffith 12,988 45.1 +32.3
Unionist Alfred Stephens 8,677 30.1 +0.7
Labour Rowland Williams 7,132 24.8 N/A
Majority 4,311 15.0 N/A
Turnout 28,797 78.3 −4.4
Registered electors 36,779
Liberal gain from National Liberal Swing N/A
1924 Carmarthen by-election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alfred Mond 12,760 44.0 −1.1
Labour Edward Teilo Owen 8,351 28.8 +4.0
Unionist Alfred Stephens 7,896 27.2 −2.9
Majority 4,409 15.2 +0.2
Turnout 29,007 78.9 +0.6
Registered electors 36,779
Liberal hold Swing −2.6
General election 1924: Carmarthen[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alfred Mond 17,281 68.5 +23.4
Labour Edward Teilo Owen 7,953 31.5 +6.7
Majority 9,328 37.0 +22.0
Turnout 25,234 67.9 −10.4
Registered electors 37,155
Liberal hold Swing +8.4
1928 Carmarthen by-election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Nathaniel Jones 10,201 35.5 −33.0
Labour Daniel Hopkin 10,154 35.4 +3.9
Unionist Courtenay Mansel 8,361 29.1 N/A
Majority 47 0.1 −36.9
Turnout 28,716 76.6 +8.7
Registered electors 37,482
Liberal hold Swing −18.5
General election 1929: Carmarthen[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daniel Hopkin 15,130 38.2 +6.7
Liberal William Nathaniel Jones 14,477 36.6 −31.9
Unionist John Coventry 9,961 25.2 N/A
Majority 653 1.6 N/A
Turnout 39,568 85.8 +17.9
Registered electors 46,110
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +19.3

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Carmarthen[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Evans 15,532 39.5 +2.9
Labour Daniel Hopkin 14,318 36.5 −1.7
Conservative Delme William Campbell Davies-Evans 9,434 24.0 −1.2
Majority 1,214 3.0 N/A
Turnout 39,284 84.5 −1.3
Registered electors 46,507
Liberal gain from Labour Swing
General election 1935: Carmarthen[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daniel Hopkin 18,146 47.5 +11.0
Liberal Richard Evans 12,911 33.8 −5.7
Conservative Edward Kellett 7,177 18.8 −5.2
Majority 5,235 13.7 N/A
Turnout 38,234 79.3 −5.2
Registered electors 48,217
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Elections in the 1940s

1941 Carmarthen by-election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Moelwyn Hughes Unopposed
Registered electors
Labour hold
General election 1945: Carmarthen[15][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 19,783 51.7 +17.9
Labour Moelwyn Hughes 18,504 48.3 +0.8
Majority 1,279 3.4 N/A
Turnout 38,286 76.1 −3.2
Registered electors 50,462
Liberal gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Carmarthen:[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 24,472 50.2 −1.5
Labour Lynn Ungoed-Thomas 24,285 49.8 +1.5
Majority 187 0.4 −3.0
Turnout 48,759 83.4 +7.3
Registered electors 58,444
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1951: Carmarthen[18][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 25,632 50.5 +0.3
Labour David Owen 25,165 49.5 −0.3
Majority 467 1.0 +0.6
Turnout 5,0795 86.5 +3.1
Registered electors 58,709
Liberal hold Swing
General election 1955: Carmarthen[19][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rhys Hopkin Morris 24,410 49.5 −1.0
Labour Jack Evans 21,077 42.7 −6.8
Plaid Cymru Jennie Eirian Davies 3,835 7.8 N/A
Majority 3,333 6.8 +5.8
Turnout 49,320 85.1 −1.4
Registered electors 57,956
Liberal hold Swing
1957 Carmarthen by-election[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 23,679 47.3 +4.6
Liberal John Morgan Davies 20,610 41.2 −8.3
Plaid Cymru Jennie Eirian Davies 5,741 11.5 +3.7
Majority 3,069 6.1 N/A
Turnout 50,030 87.5 +2.4
Registered electors 57,183
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +6.5
General election 1959: Carmarthen[20][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 23,399 47.9 +5.2
Liberal Alun Talfan Davies 16,766 34.3 −15.2
Conservative JB Evans 6,147 12.6 N/A
Plaid Cymru Hywel Heulyn Roberts 2,545 5.2 −2.6
Majority 6,633 13.6 +6.8
Turnout 48,855 85.4 +0.3
Registered electors 62,235
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Carmarthen[21][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 21,424 45.5 −2.4
Liberal Alun Talfan Davies 15,210 32.3 −2.0
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 5,495 11.7 +6.5
Conservative H.E. Protheroe-Beynon 4,996 10.6 −2.0
Majority 6,214 13.3 −0.3
Turnout 47,122 84.4 −1.0
Registered electors 55,786
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Carmarthen[22][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Megan Lloyd George 21,221 46.2 +0.7
Liberal D Hywel Davies 11,988 26.1 −6.2
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 7,416 16.1 +4.4
Conservative Simon James Day 5,338 11.6 +1.0
Majority 9,233 20.1 +6.9
Turnout 45,960 82.6 −1.8
Registered electors 55,407
Labour hold Swing
1966 Carmarthen by-election[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 16,179 39.0 +22.9
Labour Gwilym Prys-Davies 13,743 33.1 −13.1
Liberal D Hywel Davies 8,650 20.8 −5.3
Conservative Simon James Day 2,934 7.2 −4.6
Majority 2,436 5.9 N/A
Turnout 41,506 74.9 −7.7
Registered electors 55,407
Plaid Cymru gain from Labour Swing +12.0

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Carmarthen[23][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwynoro Jones 18,719 38.0 −8.2
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 14,812 30.1 +14.0
Liberal Huw Thomas 10,707 21.7 −4.4
Conservative Lloyd Harvard Davies 4,975 10.1 −1.5
Majority 3,907 7.9 N/A
Turnout 49,214 83.5 +1.0
Registered electors 64,616
Labour gain from Plaid Cymru Swing
General election February 1974: Carmarthen[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwynoro Jones 17,165 34.3 −3.7
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 17,162 34.3 +4.2
Liberal David Roderick Owen-Jones 9,698 19.4 −2.3
Conservative Bill Newton Dunn 6,037 12.1 +2.0
Majority 3 0.01 −7.9
Turnout 50,062 83.5 0.0
Registered electors 59,963
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Carmarthen[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 23,325 45.1 +11.8
Labour Gwynoro Jones 19,685 38.1 +3.8
Liberal David Roderick Owen-Jones 5,393 10.4 −9.0
Conservative Robert Hayward 2,962 5.7 −6.4
British Candidate Edward .B Jones 342 0.7 N/A
Majority 3,640 7.0 N/A
Turnout 51,704 85.6 +2.1
Registered electors 60,402
Plaid Cymru gain from Labour Swing
General election 1979: Carmarthen[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Thomas 18,667 35.9 −2.2
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 16,689 32.0 −13.1
Conservative Nigel M. Thomas 12,272 23.6 +17.9
Liberal Clem Thomas 4,186 8.0 −2.4
National Front Charlie Grice 149 0.3 N/A
New Britain EJ Clarke 126 0.2 N/A
Majority 1,978 3.9 N/A
Turnout 52,086 84.4 −1.2
Registered electors 61,714
Labour gain from Plaid Cymru Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Carmarthen[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roger Thomas 16,459 31.6 −4.3
Conservative Nigel M. Thomas 15,305 29.4 +5.8
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans 14,099 27.1 −4.9
Alliance Joan Colin 5,737 11.0 +3.0
Ecology Brian Kingzett 374 0.7 N/A
BNP Charlie Grice 154 0.3 N/A
Majority 1,154 2.2 −1.7
Turnout 52,126 82.1 −1.3
Registered electors 63,468
Labour hold Swing
General election 1987: Carmarthen[28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Williams 19,128 35.4 +3.8
Conservative Rod Richards 14,811 27.4 −2.0
Plaid Cymru Hywel Teifi Edwards 12,457 23.0 −4.1
SDP (Alliance) Gwynoro Jones 7,203 13.3 +2.3
Green Graham Oubridge 481 0.9 +0.2
Majority 4,317 8.0 +5.8
Turnout 54,080 82.9 +0.8
Registered electors 65,252
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Carmarthen[30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alan Williams 20,879 36.6 +1.2
Plaid Cymru Rhodri Glyn Thomas 17,957 31.5 +8.5
Conservative Stephen Cavenagh 12,782 22.4 −5.0
Liberal Democrats Juliana Hughes 5,353 9.4 −3.9
Majority 2,922 5.1 −2.9
Turnout 56,971 82.7 −0.2
Registered electors 68,887
Labour hold Swing −3.6

Elections in the 21st century

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [a] [32]
Party Vote %
Conservative 20,891 39.2
Plaid Cymru 16,362 30.7
Labour 13,380 25.1
Brexit Party 2,023 3.8
Liberal Democrats 686 1.3
Majority 4,529 8.5
Turnout 53,342 73.4
Electorate 72,683

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Caerfyrddin[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Plaid Cymru Ann Davies 15,520 34.0 +3.3
Labour Martha O'Neil 10,985 24.1 −1.0
Conservative Simon Hart 8,825 19.4 −19.8
Reform UK Bernard Holton 6,944 15.2 +11.4
Liberal Democrats Nick Beckett 1,461 3.2 +1.9
Green Will Beasley 1,371 3.0 N/A
Women's Equality Nancy Cole 282 0.6 N/A
Workers Party David Mark Evans 216 0.5 N/A
Majority 4,535 9.9 N/A
Turnout 45,604 61.6 −11.8
Registered electors 74,003
Plaid Cymru gain from Conservative Swing +2.2

Notes

  1. ^ Estimate of the 2019 general election result as if the revised boundaries recommended under the 2023 boundary review were in place

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Caerfyrddin". UK Parliament. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  4. ^ "The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021".
  5. ^ "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  6. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.12 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  7. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.202 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  8. ^ 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies – The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales (PDF). Boundary Commission for Wales. 28 June 2023.
  9. ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | Carmarthen East & Dinefwr". BBC News.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 2)
  12. ^ "Caerfyrddin results". BBC News Online. 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  13. ^ 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
  14. ^ Etholiadau'r ganrif 18885-1997, Beti Jones
  15. ^ "UK General Election results: July 1945 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 2 May 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  16. ^ "UK General Election results: February 1950 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  17. ^ 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
  18. ^ "UK General Election results: October 1951 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  19. ^ "UK General Election results: May 1955 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  20. ^ "UK General Election results: October 1959 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  21. ^ "UK General Election results: October 1964 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  22. ^ "UK General Election results: March 1966 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  23. ^ "UK General Election results 1970 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  24. ^ "UK General Election results: February 1974 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  25. ^ "UK General Election results: October 1974 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  26. ^ "UK General Election results: May 1979 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  27. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1983 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  28. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  29. ^ "UK General Election results: June 1987 [Archive]". www.politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  30. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  31. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Caerfyrddin notional election - December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  33. ^ "Caerfyrddin – General election 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
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