New draft Senedd constituencies proposed

Plans to create 16 super constituencies for the 2026 Senedd election have been unveiled.

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru published initial proposals to redraw Wales’ political map, replacing the current 40 constituencies and five regions.

In 2026, the Senedd will expand from 60 to 96 members and adopt a new electoral system, with the 32 constituencies used in July’s Westminster general election paired to create 16.

The boundary commission has proposed the following constituencies which would each be represented by six Senedd members:

• Bangor Aberconwy Ynys Môn
• Clwyd
• Alyn, Deeside and Wrexham
• Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr
• Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
• Carmarthenshire
• Swansea West and Gower
• Brecon, Radnor, Neath and Swansea East
• Aberafan Maesteg, Rhondda and Ogmore
• Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Pontypridd
• Blaenau Gwent, Rhymney and Caerphilly
• Monmouthshire and Torfaen
• Newport and Islwyn
• Cardiff East and North
• Cardiff West, South and Penarth
• Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend

Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr would stretch from the coast to the border, with the commission saying such a large constituency is not ideal but the best option.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George said:

"The combining of two constituencies into one to make a ‘super constituency’ represented by 6 different Senedd Members, will cause yet further confusion for those who have already had to contend with boundary changes in council and Westminster elections."

"The initial proposals will see Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, paired with Dwyfor Meirionnydd. People will rightly be confused as to which of the 6 MS’s is best served to represent their concerns."

"Welsh Conservatives have consistently opposed Labour and Plaid’s Senedd expansion proposals, it’s the wrong priority at a time when we need the money to be spent recruiting more Doctors and Nurses."

Consultation

In the full 51-page report, the commission sets out the criteria for the 2026 boundary review, including local ties, shared history, the Welsh language and socio-economic considerations.

Ynys Môn and Dwyfor Meirionnydd, for example, was not considered viable because it is not possible to travel by road from one to the other without entering Bangor Aberconwy.

A four-week consultation has opened seeking people’s views on the initial proposals, with suggestions for different pairings and constituency names welcomed.

Following the initial consultation, which ends on September 30, the independent commission will publish revised proposals in December.

Then a second four-week consultation will follow in January, with a final decision expected to be published in March 2025 ahead of the next Senedd election in May 2026.

A further review will be held after the election, with the commission given more leeway to formulate constituencies which could vary in number of voters by as much as 20%.

‘Jigsaw’

Shereen Williams, chief executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, said:

“The commission is confident our initial proposals represent a very good first step….

“But we know from experience that these processes are always strengthened when we hear from the public.

“So we strongly encourage everyone to share their views with us, whether they support or oppose the proposals, so we can further strengthen the map ahead of the next election.”

Speaking on the Hiraeth podcast about Welsh politics, Ms Williams described the review as a jigsaw, with the commission tasked with ensuring all the pieces fit and make sense.

She cautioned: “You can’t get a perfect map of constituency boundaries across the country.”

Readers can have their say on the proposals by visiting the commission’s website, emailing consultations@dhcc.gov.wales or by post to DBCC, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.

Why are Senedd boundaries being reviewed?

The boundary review forms part of wider reforms to Senedd elections.

Under the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act, which was passed in May, a new electoral system will be introduced from 2026, meaning boundaries need to be redrawn.

Proponents of the reforms argue a bigger, more proportional Senedd will make it a more effective parliament, better able to hold the Welsh Government to account.

Meanwhile, those opposed point to the estimated £18m-a-year cost of expanding the Senedd, arguing resources would be better spent on schools and hospitals.

Ultimately, the reforms are happening due to the current parliamentary arithmetic which provides a potentially once-in-a-generation opportunity.

A supermajority was needed to pass the law. Labour and Plaid Cymru did not have the numbers in the five years to 2021 and polls suggest they may fall short of two-thirds in 2026.

How will the 2026 Senedd election differ?

Currently, Wales uses an additional member system – a mix of proportional representation and the first-past-the-post system used in Westminster elections.

Forty constituency Senedd members are elected via first past the post and a further 20 are elected to represent five regions via party lists.

But from 2026 voters will receive one ballot rather than two, with first past the post scrapped and all members elected via a full form of proportional representation.

Wales will use “closed lists”, which will see people voting for parties rather than specific candidates, despite experts describing the new system as dangerous.

Political parties will decide the order of candidates on lists unlike under a flexible-list system or the single transferable vote which would give the electorate a say.

The D’Hondt method, a formula to apportion seats based on votes, will continue to be used over the Sainte-Laguë system which would benefit smaller parties.