Glamorgan County Council election, 1907

The Glamorgan County Council election, 1907 was the seventh contest for seats on this local authority in Wales. It was preceded by the 1904 election and followed by the 1910 election.

As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party again won a majority of the seats. The Conservatives made a slight advance, notably in the western part of the county where they also held on in a number of industrial wards where the influence of paternalism remained strong. A more striking factor was the advance of Labour candidates in several areas and there were also Liberal members who were returned under a 'progressive' banner with support from the labour movement.

There were no boundary changes at this election.

All eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals, or Lib-Lab members as the Conservatives and their allies had been denied any seats on the aldermanic bench since the 1901 election.

There were fewer contested elections than three years before.

There were only two contested elections in the Aberdare district, and both were more personal than political. It was noted that the labour movement did not show the same interest in county elections than in those for the district council.

There were only two contested elections in this area and in one of those, a candidate had withdrawn too late in the day and polled very few votes. The contest in Maesteg was a particularly lively one and was influenced by the political struggles in Mid Glamorgan where Vernon Hartshorn was an increasingly influential figure. Hartshorn instigated the candidacy of the local federation solicitor who defeated a candidate closely allied to the coalowners.

In these areas the Conservatives performed well, mainly at the expense of the Liberals and also holding off Labour challenges in Pontardawe and Loughor. Labour took Cwmavon from the Liberals by a substantial majority.

J.M. Smith held on to the seat he had held since 1889 by a far more comfortable majority than three years previously. His opponent, a Liberal in 1904, now stood as a Labour candidate. The result was greeted by what was said to be the liveliest crowd seen in Aberavon for many years.

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