Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Cardigan was won by Liberal at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 2,194 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Cardigan from 1950 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1950–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Evan Roderic Bowen (Liberal)
17,093
52.2%
Iwan Morgan (Labour)
8,038 (24.5 pts)
73.6%
1951
Evan Roderic Bowen (Liberal)
19,954
67.3%
Brynmor Williams (Labour)
10,257 (34.6 pts)
70.6%
1955
Evan Roderic Bowen (Liberal)
18,907
65.2%
David Jones-Davies (Labour)
8,817 (30.4 pts)
72.7%
1959
Evan Roderic Bowen (Liberal)
17,868
59.0%
Loti Rees Hughes (Labour)
9,309 (30.7 pts)
78.0%
1964
Roderic Bowen (Liberal)
11,500
38.4%
David John Davies (Labour)
2,219 (7.4 pts)
78.9%
1966
Elystan Morgan (Labour)
11,302
37.1%
Roderic Bowen (Liberal)
523 (1.7 pts)
81.1%
1970
Elystan Morgan (Labour)
11,063
33.4%
Huw Williams (Liberal)
1,263 (3.8 pts)
82.1%
Feb 1974
Geraint Howells (Liberal)
14,371
40.2%
Elystan Morgan (Labour)
2,476 (6.9 pts)
83.7%
Oct 1974
Geraint Howells (Liberal)
14,612
42.2%
Elystan Morgan (Labour)
2,410 (7.0 pts)
80.5%
1979
Geraint Howells (Liberal)
13,227
35.6%
I Emlyn Thomas (Conservative)
2,194 (5.9 pts)
81.5%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Evan Roderic Bowen
Liberal
17,093
52.2%
Yes
Iwan Morgan
Labour
9,055
27.6%
No
George Sinclair Ross Little
Conservative
6,680
20.4%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Evan Roderic Bowen
Liberal
19,954
67.3%
Yes
Brynmor Williams
Labour
9,697
32.7%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Evan Roderic Bowen
Liberal
18,907
65.2%
Yes
David Jones-Davies
Labour
10,090
34.8%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Evan Roderic Bowen
Liberal
17,868
59.0%
Yes
Loti Rees Hughes
Labour
8,559
28.2%
No
Gareth W Evans
Plaid Cymru
3,880
12.8%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Roderic Bowen
Liberal
11,500
38.4%
Yes
David John Davies
Labour
9,281
31.0%
No
Arthur J Ryder
Conservative
5,897
19.7%
No
Gareth W Evans
Plaid Cymru
3,262
10.9%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Elystan Morgan
Labour
11,302
37.1%
Yes
Roderic Bowen
Liberal
10,779
35.4%
No
John Thomas
Conservative
5,893
19.4%
No
Edward Millward
Plaid Cymru
2,469
8.1%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Elystan Morgan
Labour
11,063
33.4%
Yes
Huw Williams
Liberal
9,800
29.6%
No
Hywel ap Robert
Plaid Cymru
6,498
19.6%
No
David George
Conservative
5,715
17.3%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Geraint Howells
Liberal
14,371
40.2%
Yes
Elystan Morgan
Labour
11,895
33.2%
No
Trefor Llewellyn
Conservative
4,758
13.3%
No
Clifford Davies
Plaid Cymru
4,754
13.3%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Geraint Howells
Liberal
14,612
42.2%
Yes
Elystan Morgan
Labour
12,202
35.2%
No
Clifford Davies
Plaid Cymru
4,583
13.2%
No
Delwyn Williams
Conservative
3,257
9.4%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Geraint Howells
Liberal
13,227
35.6%
Yes
I Emlyn Thomas
Conservative
11,033
29.7%
No
John Powell
Labour
7,488
20.2%
No
Dafydd Hughes
Plaid Cymru
5,382
14.5%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Cardigan has been contested at 10 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Liberal, Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Cardigan in the 1979 general election?
Liberal won Cardigan in 1979 with 13,227 votes (35.6%), a majority of 2,194 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Cardigan since 1950?
Since 1950, Cardigan has been won by: Labour, Liberal.
What was the closest result in Cardigan?
The closest result on record for Cardigan was 1966, when Labour beat Liberal by just 523 votes (1.7 percentage points).