1966 Carmarthen by-election

UK Parliamentary by-election in Wales

The 1966 Carmarthen by-election, was held in Carmarthen, Wales, on 14 July 1966. The contest was significant in that it resulted in the election of Gwynfor Evans, the first ever Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament. Plaid Cymru's victory in the Carmarthen constituency, a seminal moment for Welsh nationalism, was part of a wider process toward Welsh devolution which eventually led to the establishment of the Welsh Assembly in 1999.

Gwynfor Evans' surprise win is credited with laying the foundations for Winnie Ewing's victory for the Scottish National Party at the 1967 Hamilton by-election, an event of equal significance for Scottish nationalism.

Results

1966 Carmarthen by-election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Plaid Cymru	Gwynfor Evans	16,179	39.0	+22.8
	Labour	Gwilym Prys-Davies	13,743	33.1	−13.1
	Liberal	Hywel Davies	8,650	20.8	−5.3
	Conservative	Simon Day	2,934	7.1	−4.5
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

"1965 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
Craig, F. W. S. (1971). British parliamentary election results 1950-1970 (1 ed.). Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 9780900178023. Page 570

v t e « 43rd Parliament « By-elections to the 44th Parliament of the United Kingdom » 45th Parliament »
1966	July: Carmarthen
1967	March: Glasgow Pollok Nuneaton Rhondda West Honiton April: Brierley Hill September: Cambridge Walthamstow West November: Hamilton Leicester South West Manchester Gorton West Derbyshire
1968	March: Kensington South Acton Dudley Meriden Warwick and Leamington June: Oldham West Sheffield Brightside Nelson and Colne July: Caerphilly October: Bassetlaw November: New Forest
1969	March: Brighton Pavilion Walthamstow East Weston-super-Mare April: Mid Ulster May: Chichester June: Birmingham Ladywood October: Glasgow Gorbals Islington North Newcastle-under-Lyme Paddington North Swindon December: Louth Wellingborough
1970	March: Bridgwater South Ayrshire
Lists of UK by-elections 1801–1806 1806–1818 1818–1832 1832–1847 1847–1857 1857–1868 1868–1885 1885–1900 1900–1918 1918–1931 1931–1950 1950–1979 1979–2010 2010–present Northern Ireland Hereditary peers

v t e « 1900–1949 « By-elections in Wales to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom 1950–present
1950s	November 1950: Abertillery October 1954: Aberdare March 1955: Wrexham July 1956: Newport February 1957: Carmarthen November 1958: Pontypool
1960s	November 1960: Ebbw Vale May 1962: Montgomeryshire March 1963: Swansea East April 1965: Abertillery July 1966: Carmarthen March 1967: Rhondda West July 1968: Caerphilly
1970s	April 1972: Merthyr Tydfil
1980s	September 1982: Gower May 1984: Cynon Valley July 1985: Brecon and Radnor February 1989: Pontypridd May 1989: Vale of Glamorgan
1990s	April 1991: Neath May 1991: Monmouth February 1995: Islwyn
2000s	February 2000: Ceredigion February 2002: Ogmore June 2006: Blaenau Gwent
2010s	November 2012: Cardiff South and Penarth May 2016: Ogmore April 2019: Newport West August 2019: Brecon and Radnorshire
Politics portal United Kingdom portal Wales portal Lists of UK by-elections 1801–1806 1806–1818 1818–1832 1832–1847 1847–1857 1857–1868 1868–1885 1885–1900 1900–1918 1918–1931 1931–1950 1950–1979 1979–2010 2010–present Northern Ireland Hereditary peers