Elected As A Labour M.P.
The Pioneer 27th April 1918
Labour’s Choice at Bedwellty. CHARLES EDWARDS TO FIGHT SEAT.
At a conference of Labour organisations of the Bedwellty Division at
Newport on Saturday, Councillor J. Powell, Risca, presiding, it was
unanimously resolved to contest the division in the labour interest
at the next General Election. Councillor Charles Edwards, J.P.
miners’ agent, Pontllanfraith, was the only nominee as candidate and he received the unanimous support of the conference. It was resolved to oppose the proposal of the Monmouthshire County Council to schedule the county for proportional representation, and the Chairman and Mr. W. Jones, Pengam, were deputed to give
evidence against the scheme if an inquiry was held.
The election was held and Charles Edwards won the seat with a
majority of 1560
1918 – General Election – Bedwellty
Constituency: Bedwellty
Turnout: 70.8%
Results Candidate Party Votes
Edwards, Charles Labour 11730
Williams, William Henry Liberal with Coalition 10170
He remained the Member of Parliament for Bedwellty for another 32
years until 1950! Appointed the Welsh Whip in 1925 and Chief Whip
in 1931. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1940 and from 1940 –
1942 he was Chief Whip in the war time coalition government.
Western Daily Press Monday 19th April 1926
Mr Charles- Edwards, M.P., for Bedwellty Monmouthshire met with a
serious accident as he was leaving Bedwellty Station. On his return
from London, he slipped and fell heavily on the platform. Medical
examination revealed a dislocated shoulder & severe body bruises.
In 1929 he was awarded the CBE.
The Knighthood
On July 10th 1935, Charles Edwards was bestowed with a
Knighthood in the King’s Birthdays Honours.
Edwards Charles MP for Bedwellty 1918-1950 10th July 1935 Kt Bach
Western Mail 3rd June, 1935:
NEW KNIGHTS:
Mr. Charles Edwards’s Public Services Mr. Charles Edwards, M.P.
(Knight), represents Bedwellty as a Socialist in Parliament. Born in
Llangunllo, Radnorshire in 1867, he began work as a collier’s boy at
Risca at the age of 14. After several years’ work underground he
was appointed first checkweigher and then miners’ agent. He was a
founder of the South Wales Miners’ Federation. He has served on
the Risca Urban Council and the Monmouthshire County Council,
and is a J.P. In 1929 he received the C.B.E. In Parliament, which he
entered in 1918, he has for many years served as a Socialist Whip
and is the party’s present Chief Whip.