Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Merthyr was won by Labour at the 1945 general election, with a majority of 19,186 votes over Independent Labour. This page covers every general election in Merthyr from 1918 to 1945.
Full Election History, 1918–1945
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1918
Edgar Rees Jones (Liberal)
14,127
52.7%
James Winstone (Labour)
1,445 (5.4 pts)
76.5%
1922
Richard Collingham Wallhead (Labour)
17,516
53.0%
Richard Mathias (Independent and Anti-Socialist)
1,964 (5.9 pts)
90.6%
1923
Richard Collingham Wallhead (Labour)
19,511
60.1%
Rowland Thomas (Liberal)
12,108 (37.3 pts)
86.8%
1924
Richard Collingham Wallhead (Labour)
19,882
59.8%
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (Unionist)
6,499 (19.5 pts)
86.9%
1929
Richard Collingham Wallhead (Labour)
22,701
59.6%
James Jenkins (Labour)
14,005 (36.8 pts)
85.8%
1931
Richard Collingham Wallhead (Independent Labour)
24,623
69.4%
Sellick Davies (New Party)
13,789 (38.9 pts)
80.8%
1935
Stephen Owen Davies (Labour)
20,530
68.0%
Claude Stanfield (Independent Labour)
10,890 (36.1 pts)
68.8%
1945
Stephen Owen Davies (Labour)
24,879
81.4%
Samuel Jennings (Independent Labour)
19,186 (62.8 pts)
68.6%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1918
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Edgar Rees Jones
Liberal
14,127
52.7%
Yes
James Winstone
Labour
12,682
47.3%
No
1922
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Richard Collingham Wallhead
Labour
17,516
53.0%
Yes
Richard Mathias
Independent and Anti-Socialist
15,552
47.0%
No
1923
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Richard Collingham Wallhead
Labour
19,511
60.1%
Yes
Rowland Thomas
Liberal
7,403
22.8%
No
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
Unionist
5,548
17.1%
No
1924
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Richard Collingham Wallhead
Labour
19,882
59.8%
Yes
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies
Unionist
13,383
40.2%
No
1929
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Richard Collingham Wallhead
Labour
22,701
59.6%
Yes
James Jenkins
Labour
8,696
22.8%
No
Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt
Unionist
6,712
17.6%
No
1931
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Richard Collingham Wallhead
Independent Labour
24,623
69.4%
Yes
Sellick Davies
New Party
10,834
30.6%
No
1935
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Stephen Owen Davies
Labour
20,530
68.0%
Yes
Claude Stanfield
Independent Labour
9,640
32.0%
No
1945
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Stephen Owen Davies
Labour
24,879
81.4%
Yes
Samuel Jennings
Independent Labour
5,693
18.6%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Merthyr has been contested at 8 general elections on record since 1918. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Liberal, Labour, Independent Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Merthyr in the 1945 general election?
Labour won Merthyr in 1945 with 24,879 votes (81.4%), a majority of 19,186 votes over Independent Labour in second place.
Which parties have won Merthyr since 1918?
Since 1918, Merthyr has been won by: Independent Labour, Labour, Liberal.
What was the closest result in Merthyr?
The closest result on record for Merthyr was 1918, when Liberal beat Labour by just 1,445 votes (5.4 percentage points).