When a general election was called at short notice in early 1874, Lloyd emerged as an unexpected Conservative candidate for
Cardiganshire, and won a surprise victory which was greeted with consternation and surprise in the Liberal ranks. The sitting Liberal member,
Evan Mathew Richards, had won the seat in 1868 in a contest heavily influenced by allegations of coercion, and the introduction of the secret ballot was expected to make the seat safe for the Liberals. Lloyd had also not been involved in conflict with his tenantry, and his candidacy would not therefore attract the same degree of opposition as would face one of the more prominent landowners. There were suggestions early in the campaign that the contest would be closer than might be expected, as the Liberals had not expected a contest, or at least a contest against a plausible candidate. Lloyd's candidacy was kept a closely guarded secret until nomination day, although his leaflets and campaign literature had been printed. In later years, there were allegations of irregularities, and that a ballot box had been tampered with when kept overnight at
Aberaeron. In 1880, Lloyd was defeated by
Lewis Pugh Pugh of Abermad, who was related to the Pryse family of
Gogerddan. He played little part in public life thereafter and seldom attended any meetings of the magistracy following the formation of Cardiganshire County Council in 1889. ==Later life and death==