Video 17 - 1966 By election aftermath
The Labour Party in Carmarthen was devastated and lost heart for quite a while;
First task after being selected
as candidate in Aug 1967 was to change all that - as will be explained in Video
18;
But the Labour Party in Wales was despondent and shaken;
Realised that they had made a mistake on two counts - not replacing Megan Lloyd George of the March 1966 General Election and also chose the wrong candidate in Gwilym Prys Davies to contest the by-election;
Also had been complacent for too long - ageing membership and elderly MPs;
S O Davies, Arthur Pearson, Ness Edwards, Elfed Davies, Cliff Williams and others;
Bad results were to follow in the party's heartland soon after Carmarthen
But the Labour Party in Wales was despondent and shaken;
Realised that they had made a mistake on two counts - not replacing Megan Lloyd George of the March 1966 General Election and also chose the wrong candidate in Gwilym Prys Davies to contest the by-election;
Also had been complacent for too long - ageing membership and elderly MPs;
S O Davies, Arthur Pearson, Ness Edwards, Elfed Davies, Cliff Williams and others;
Bad results were to follow in the party's heartland soon after Carmarthen
Video
18 - How did Labour react? and how his career moves on
Of course other disastrous by elections results followed in the Rhondda and Caerphilly and they were in many ways far more devastating on the morale of the party. Its heartland and stronghold was being seriously challenged.
Explains how Labour - responded tactically;
Made moves towards indicating devolved administration was a possibility - hence the Crowther/Kilbrandon Commission, noises etc;
Describes working in his frirst job with Ina Needle Bearings in Llanelli and the Wales Gas;
Refers to Mervyn Jones 'Jones the Gas' who later became chair of the Tourist Board;
Then the period in the summer of 1967 how he was approached about suggesting he should be a Labour candidate - 'but you wont win of course';
In between time in the process of getting married;
Explains how the campaign to win was planned and pays tribute to his agent Ivor Morris;
Describes the level of campaigning that was involved including Noson Lawen's with the young Max Boyce, Triban and 'Ifan' performing.
By 1969 became Research and Public Relations Officer for what was then the Welsh Council of Labour.