Dafen (electoral ward)

Dafen is an electoral ward, representing the immediate area around the village of Dafen in the community of Llanelli Rural, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Profile

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In 2014, the Dafen electoral ward had an electorate of 2,665.[1] The total population was 3,615, of whom 84.6% were born in Wales. 26.9% of the population were able to speak Welsh.[1]

Representation

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Dafan is a ward to Llanelli Rural Council, electing four community councillors.[2]

The Dafen Ward is a single-member ward for the purposes of Carmarthenshire County Council elections. Since 2012 it has been represented by Labour Party councilor Tegwen Devichand.

Recent history

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The first election to the new unitary Carmarthenshire County Council took place in 1995. Dafen Ward was won by the Labour Party candidate, Vernon Warlow, who defeated a sitting member of Llanelli Borough Council.

Dafen 1995
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Vernon John Warlow 477
Independent Green Brian Stringer* 428
Majority 49
Labour win (new seat)

At the 1999, Warlow was re-elected despite a strong showing by Plaid Cymru which won the Llanelli seat in the inaugural Welsh Assembly elections held on the same day.

Dafen 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Vernon John Warlow* 568
Plaid Cymru Alford Clement Thomas 562
Majority 6
Labour hold Swing

Labour again held the seat in 2004. Tegwen Devichand was elected at a by-election following the death of the previous councillor, Vernon Warlow.

Dafen 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tegwen Devichand* 546
Plaid Cymru Alford Clement Thomas 306
Majority 240
Labour hold Swing

Labour again held the seat in 2008.

Dafen 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tegwen Devichand* 532
Plaid Cymru Mohammad Alam Choudry 402
Majority 130
Labour hold Swing

In 2012, Labour retained the seat. Labour won by a large majority although Plaid Cymru's vote may have been affected by the decision of their former candidate, Clem Thomas, to stand for People First.

Dafen 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tegwen Devichand* 513
Plaid Cymru Mohammad Alam Choudry 178
People First Clem Thomas 131
Independent Dai Hughes 90
Majority 130
Labour hold Swing

Earlier History

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County Council Elections

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The long-standing ward boundaries in the Llanelli area were redrawn in the 1980s and Dafen ward was part of the Felinfoel ward for the purposes of election to Dyfed County Council in 1989 and 1993.

When the current Carmarthenshire County Council was formed in 1995, Dafen became a ward in its own.

District Council Elections

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From 1987, Dafen formed an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Llanelli Borough Council. Dafen returned two members.

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  • "Dafen Ward: Electoral Division Profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2014.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dafen Ward: Electoral Division Profile" (PDF). Carmarthenshire County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Members". Llanelli Rural Council. Retrieved 22 July 2022.