The Caerphilly by-election of 15 July 1968 was held after the death of Labour MP Ness Edwards.

The seat was very safe, having been won by Labour at the 1966 United Kingdom general election by over 21,000 votes[1] but Plaid Cymru gave Labour a serious fright in this by-election and came close to winning the seat on a huge swing.

Candidates

  • Labour chose Alfred Evans to defend their seat, who was a councillor.
  • Nationalist party Plaid Cymru stood Philip Williams, who at the time was teaching at University College, Aberystwyth and was mentored by John DA Howell.
  • The Conservatives chose Robert Williams.
  • Peter Sadler was the choice of the Liberal Party association.

Result of the previous general election

General election 1966: Caerphilly
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ness Edwards 26,330 74.3 +2.2
Conservative Ronald J Maddocks 5,182 14.6 -2.3
Plaid Cymru John D A Howell 3,949 11.1 +0.1
Majority 21,148 59.7 +4.4
Turnout 35,461 76.8 -1.6
Registered electors 46,180
Labour hold Swing

Result of the by-election

1968 Caerphilly by-election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alfred Evans 16,148 45.7 -28.6
Plaid Cymru Phil Williams 14,274 40.4 +29.3
Conservative Robert Williams 3,687 10.4 -4.2
Liberal Peter Sadler 1,257 3.5 N/A
Majority 1,874 5.3 -54.4
Turnout 35,366 75.9 -0.9
Registered electors 46,578
Labour hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "1966 Election Results". Politics Resources. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "1968 By Election Results". British Elections Ephemera Archive. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
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