PLANS to cut the number of Welsh MPs from 40 to 29, including merging Caerleon, Croesyceiliog and Llanyrafon into Torfaen, have been blasted as “needless gerrymandering” by the area’s MP.

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 by 50 to 600. And, following a consultation and examination of feedback, the organisation released revised proposals this week.

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

If the plans go ahead 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 it.

But Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds described the plans 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.

Reacting to the revised proposals, Monmouth’s David Davies, the only Conservative MP in Gwent, said: “It has been a real honour to represent 10,000 residents in Torfaen for the past 10 years.

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

Under the plans, a single Newport constituency will be created with a number of wards within the city set to merge.

A number of areas in Newport East will become part of the Monmouth constituency, which will be renamed Monmouthshire to reflect the fact the constituency will largely follow county boundaries, while Islwyn is set to be scrapped altogether.

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.