NEWPORT could lose one of its two MPs while the Islwyn Parliamentary seat is scrapped altogether under plans which will see the number of Welsh representatives in Westminster cut from 40 to 29.
The Boundary Commission for Wales presented its initial proposals for a review of Parliamentary seats today as part of a plan to cut the overall number of UK MPs by 50 to 600.
Among its recommendations are to create a single Newport constituency comprising Alway, Beechwood, Liswerry, Ringland, St Julians and Victoria in the east and Allt-yr-yn, Bettws, Gaer, Malpas, Marshfield, Pill, Shaftesbury, Stow Hill and Tredegar Park in the west.
How the new Gwent constituencies could look:
Meanwhile, Langstone, Llanwern and the remainder of Newport East will be merged into Monmouth, while the Newport West wards of Graig and Rogerstone will join Caerphilly and Caerleon will become part of Torfaen.
Croesyceiliog and Llanyfron, currently in Monmouth, will also be merged into Torfaen, while the Islwyn seat will be scrapped altogether, with its northern section becoming part of Blaenau Gwent, the southern part joining Caerphilly and Aberbargoed falling into Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.
The northern part of Caerphilly, from Nelson upwards, will also become part of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.
How the new Gwent constituencies look now:
Responding to the proposals, Newport East MP Jessica Morden, whose seat is one of those under threat, said: “Clearly there is a lot of unhappiness about the process given that the government has ignored two million people who have joined the electoral register since 2015, while also cramming the unelected House of Lords with yet more peers.
“This is only the first stage of a very long process and I will continue to do my best for the people of Newport East.”
And Islwyn’s Chris Evans called the proposal “extremely disappointing”.
“Many of the reformed constituencies make very little geographical sense and the majority of my constituents will be unhappy with these plans,” he said.
The Labour MP, who was first elected in 2010, added he believed the review would only add to the political uncertainty following the result of June’s referendum.
“I will do everything I can to fight for the community to be represented together as one in Parliament,” he said
Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith said he was in favour of occasional reviews of constituencies, but was also concerned about the process of the review.
"If this proposal is pushed through I will do my very best to serve everyone in the new constituency and stand up for them,” he said.
And Caerphilly MP Wayne David slammed the proposals, claiming they were “an attack on the Labour Party”.
“These are bad proposals," he said.
“They deny the geographic reality of the area and the sense of community which exists in the Valleys.
“It might be easy to draw lines on a map but that doesn’t recognise the topography of the area.”
But Monmouth's David Davies, the only Conservative MP in Gwent, said: “I went to school in Caldicot and it would be a pleasure to canvass Hall Park where I used to live.
“And I will be delighted to represent the parts of Monmouthshire County Council which are currently in Newport East.”
A 12-week consultation into the proposals began today and will close on Monday, December 5.
For information visit bcomm-wales.gov.uk.
Newport West MP Paul Flynn was not available for comment yesterday afternoon as he was taking part in a debate in the House of Commons and Torfaen's Nick Thomas-Symonds could not be reached.
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