Today (Tuesday, 14 July) marks 60 years to the day since Gwynfor Evans’ historic victory in the Carmarthen by-election on 14 July 1966, where he became Plaid Cymru’s first Member of Parliament.
60 years since winning the seat, Plaid Cymru is now the main party in the Senedd and leads a minority government in Cardiff, with three Members of the Senedd from Sir Gaerfyrddin representing the party.
In a joint statement, Ann Davies MP, Cefin Campbell MS, Nerys Evans MS, and Adam Price MS paid tribute to the legacy of Gwynfor Evans and reflected on the journey Wales has been on since that turning point:
“Sixty years ago, the people of Carmarthen were part of history when they elected Gwynfor Evans as Plaid Cymru’s first Member of Parliament.
“His victory was a turning point not only for Plaid Cymru, but for our entire nation. Through his vision, leadership, courage and unwavering faith in the inherent value of Wales – its people, its language and its culture, Gwynfor laid the foundations for the political development of Wales over the past six decades. From laying Plaid Cymru’s electoral foundations, strengthening the status of the Welsh language and winning the battle to establish S4C, his legacy continues to shape our nation to this day.
“We are extremely proud, as elected members representing Carmarthenshire, to be a part of the county’s political story – a part of the lineage that stretches from 1966 to today with a Plaid Cymru government in power in Cardiff Bay.”
