The 1973 Gwent County Council election was held on Thursday 12 April 1973 to elect councillors to the new Gwent County Council, governing the new county of Gwent, Wales. It took place on the same day as other county council elections in the United Kingdom.
These were the first elections to the new county council, which would come into effect on 1 April 1974. Future elections would take place every four years, with the next one scheduled for April 1977.
The 1973 election saw the Labour Party win a strong majority on the Council.
Gwent was created following local government reorganisation enacted by the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of Monmouthshire and Newport County Borough, which would be transferred from England to Wales in 1974.
The 1973 elections were the first to the new local authorities, with councillors acting in a shadow capacity until 1 April 1974 when the new councils took full effect.[1]
The position of alderman on the local authorities was abolished, with all members of the new councils being elected ward councillors.[1]
Seventy-eight Gwent County Council seats in 66 electoral wards were up for election in April 1973. Labour overall increased its presence in comparison with the old councils, though there were some close battles between Labour, the Liberals and Independents in some wards.[2]
In Cwmbran Labour did not fare so well, with an Independent and a Ratepayer candidate winning seats, and the Conservatives polling strongly.[2]
Bill Harry had been one of four Monmouthshire county councillors in Tredegar for 13 years, but Gwent County Council would only have three Tredegar county councillors, with Harry being the loser against Angus Donaldson who was a sitting Liberal Monmouthshire councillor for Tredegar.[2]
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) results page also provides some middle initials of candidates, also indicating which candidates are female
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Abertillery No. 2"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Alexandra" (per the town's Alexandra Dock area) but the Election Centre calls it "Alexander"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, Alway"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as simply "Bedwellty No. 2", though the Election Centre adds "Pengam"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Bedwellty No. 3" though the Election Centre shows Mrs Lloyd as being elected to "Argoed and Cefn Fforest"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, Beechwood"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Bettws"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) describes "W. Edwards" as "Independent" though Elections Centre describes "N. Edwards" as "Democratic Labour"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Central"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) results page lists Spanswick as the "Plaid Cymru/Common Market Referendum" candidate
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Crickhowell"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Crucorny Fawr and Llantilio" while Elections Centre says "Crucorny Fawr & Llantilio Pertho" (though this will refer to Llantilio Pertholey)
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the full ward name as "Ebbw Vale, Badminton, Beaufort and North Central" and Election Centre name appears to be abbreviated
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the full ward name as "Ebbw Vale Central, Cwm and South Central" and Election Centre name appears to be abbreviated
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Liswerrry" while the Election Centre calls it "Lliswerry"
^Election Centre has repeated the losing Malpas ward Conservative candidates here, but South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the Lliswerry losing candidates as J. Maynard and E. Di Villa
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Malpas"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Ringland"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) describes Bevan as a 'Progressive Independent'
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Shaftesbury"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, St. Julians"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport, St. Woolos"
^South Wales Echo (13 April 1973) gives the ward name as "Newport Victoria"
^ ab"Echo Survey - on the great unknowns". South Wales Echo. 3 April 1973. p. 6. These are the most important local elections in living memory. This year for the first time every council will be elected together. Formerly one-third came up for election each year ... For the year following the elections the new councils will gradually take over from the old ones. Then, when the year is up, the old councils will meet for the last time and the new ones take full responsibility. Because aldermen, who at present make up a quarter of the county and county borough councils, are to be abolished several of those now serving will have to contest elections if they want a seat on the new councils ...
^ abcdefghi"Dad gets her vote - but he still loses seat - Gwent (results)". South Wales Echo. 13 April 1973. p. 8.