PLANS to cut the number of Welsh MPs from 40 to 29, including merging Newport into a single constituency and scrapping Islwyn altogether, remain unchanged following a public consultation.

In September last year the Boundary Commission for Wales has released proposals as part of a plan to cut the overall number of MPs in the UK from 650 to 600.

And, following a consultation and examination of feedback, the organisation released revised proposals today, Tuesday.

Although some areas have been changed, the plans for the seven Gwent constituencies remain unchanged.

If the plans go ahead Alway, Beechwood, Liswerry, Ringland, St Julians and Victoria, currently in Newport East, will be merged with the Newport West wards of Allt-yr-yn, Bettws, Gaer, Malpas, Marshfield, Pill, Shaftesbury, Stow Hill and Tredegar Park, to create a single Newport constituency.

The remainder of Newport East, encompassing Langstone, Llanwern, Caldicot Castle, Dewstow, Green Lane, Mill, Rogiet, Severn, The Elms and West End will join Monmouth, which will be renamed Monmouthshire to reflect the fact that the revamped constituency will largely follow the county boundary.

Meanwhile all areas currently in Torfaen will remain within the constituency, while Caerleon, currently in Newport East, and the Croesyceiliog North and South wards, as well as Llanyrafon North and South, currently in Monmouth, will also be merged into Torfaen.

Islwyn will be scrapped altogether, with Argoed, Blackwood, Cefn Forest, Crumlin, Newbridge, Pengam and Penmaen being merged into Blaenau Gwent. All areas currently in Blaenau Gwent will remain within the constituency.

The proposals also suggest merging Graig and Rogerstone, currently in Newport West, into Caerphilly, along with the Abercarn, Crosskeys, Maesycwmmer, Pontllanfraith, Risca East, Risca West and Ynysddu areas of Islwyn.

Aber Valley, Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, Llanbradach, Morgan Jones, Penyrheol, St James and St Martins will remain within Caerphilly, while Bargoed, Gilfach, Hengoed, Nelson, St Cattwg and Ystrad Mynach will be merged with Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, which will also incorporate Aberbargoed, currently in Islwyn.

But Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who has represented the area since 1987, blasted the plans, calling them “a severe blow”.

“If these proposals go through the City of Democracy will lose one of its two MPs,” he said.

“This will be a severe blow which is entirely unjustified.

“Elected MPs will be cut while the government continues to stuff the Lords with their un-elected cronies and donors.”

The Labour MP added he believed residents of areas such as Rogerstone, Bassaleg and Caerleon considered themselves part of Newport and would not want to be moved.

Monmouth MP David Davies, the only Conservative MP in Gwent, was more positive about the plans.

“It has been a real honour to represent 10,000 residents in Torfaen for the past ten years,” he said.

“I am sorry if these changes go ahead and this comes to an end.

“On the other hand it would be an honour to represent Caldicot and Rogiet and those areas where I lived myself in the 1970s.”

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds described the proposal as “needless gerrymandering for the partisan interest of the Tories”.

“These proposals, if they go through the House of Commons, will diminish the voice of Wales at Westminster, which is particularly important as Wales fights for its fair share of funding as the Brexit negotiations continue,” he said.

Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith said he was not convinced the review would go ahead.

“It looks like Blaenau Gwent will remain intact, but other communities from the middle of the valley will be joined onto it to make a bigger constituency,” he said.

“This review was intended to be established for the 2020 election, but now that’s officially moved to 2022.

“Let’s see if this review comes to fruition as there’s already rumours that it’s going to be stymied.”

A second consultation has been launched into the revised proposals, and will run until Monday, December 11. To take part visit bcomm-wales.gov.uk or call 02920 464 819.

Results of the second consultation will be published in September next year and will not take effect until 2021 at the earliest.

The plans are being developed in accordance with the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, which requires a reduction in the number of UK constituencies from 650 to 600 and for every UK constituency to have an electorate within the range of 71,031 to 78,507.

Secretary of the Boundary Commission for Wales Steve Halsall said: “The commission has produced a set of proposals which meet the requirements of the 2011 act.

“It has also taken into account other relevant factors and has sought to identify the solutions most suitable to local needs within Wales.

“I would emphasise that these are not the final set of proposals so I urge the Welsh public to take this opportunity to have their say during this consultation period.”

Newport East and Caerphilly MPs Jessica Morden and Wayne David were not available for comment.