 His was a controversial nomination given that he was a Political Assistant to Eric Hammond, General Secretary of the Electricians' Trade Union, the EETPU, at a time when that trade union was at odds with the majority of trade union views on the major industrial disputes at that time involving Fleet Street/Wapping and the Miners' strike.Walters, however, despite being the favourite to gain the nomination lost to the local Trinity College lecturer, Dr Alan Williams, supported by very active Labour Party Branches in Carmarthen town and who went on to win the seat in the subsequent general election.Thomas duly retired from Parliament at the dissolution in 1987.