Emlyn Garner Evans - Relations With The Conservatives

Relations With The Conservatives

Continuing concerns at Garner Evans' political and personal performance both in Parliament and in the constituency prompted a meeting of the Conservative Central Council to be called in May 1958. Despite Garner Evans pleading to the meeting that "I have spent pretty well all my life trying to bring Liberals and Conservatives together", the delegates passed a motion of no confidence in their Member of Parliament by 44 to 15. The association President then said that he would then move to discuss with the National Liberals how to select a candidate acceptable to both parties. In November 1958 Conservative Central Office reported that Evans had told them he would not be a candidate for re-election. The Conservative Association subsequently selected Geraint Morgan.

This situation put the National Liberals in a quandary as they had not withdrawn support from Garner Evans. In July 1958 he issued a statement to his electors pledging continued support for the Government and urging the Conservatives not to take any "hasty action" which might place his and other National Liberal seats in jeopardy. The same month, a meeting of the National Liberals pledged support for him; however the Conservatives undertook prolonged negotiations.

It was only on the eve of the 1959 general election that a deal worked out by Conservative Chairman Lt-Col. J. C. Wynne-Edwards was agreed under which Morgan agreed to run as a 'Conservative and National Liberal' candidate. Morgan spoke to the National Liberals and persuaded them to pledge official support to him. During the election campaign, the Liberal candidate attacked the Conservatives for withdrawing support from Evans.

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