2026 review of Senedd constituencies#Final proposals (March 2025)
{{Short description|2026 boundary review in Wales}}
The 2026 review of Senedd constituencies was conducted between July 2024 and March 2025 by the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 legislated that the 2026 Senedd election should use 16 six-member constituencies, replacing the existing 40 constituencies and five regions currently used for the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; {{Langx|cy|Senedd Cymru}}).{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Senedd reform {{!}} GOV.WALES |url=https://www.gov.wales/senedd-reform |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=www.gov.wales |language=en}} The constituencies are required by the law to be contiguous pairings of the 32 UK Parliament constituencies used in Wales since the 2024 UK election. The commission were also required by the law to give constituencies a single name in both Welsh and English, unless it could be considered unacceptable for a single name. The commission announced they are to all use Welsh-only names.
Background
{{See also|Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024}}
The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024, also nicknamed the "Senedd Reform Act", was introduced to the Senedd on 18 September 2023,{{cite web |date=18 September 2023 |title=Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: integrated impact assessment |url=https://www.gov.wales/senedd-cymru-members-and-elections-bill-integrated-impact-assessment-html |access-date=23 September 2023 |publisher=Welsh Government}} and received royal assent on 24 June 2024. It was the culmination of various proposals for reforming the Senedd, particularly the increase in the numbers of members of the Senedd, and changing the existing voting system.{{cite web |last1=McAllister |first1=Laura |last2=Wyn Jones |first2=Richard |last3=Larner |first3=Jac |year=2022 |title=Improving democracy in Wales |url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/impact-and-innovation/research-impact/improving-democracy-in-wales |access-date=23 September 2022 |website=Cardiff University}}
As part of the 2021 co-operation agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, the parties agreed on an expansion of the Senedd to between 80 and 100 Members and a more proportional voting method.{{cite web |date=1 December 2021 |title=The Co-operation Agreement: full policy programme |url=https://gov.wales/co-operation-agreement-full-policy-programme-html |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=The Government of Wales}} Leaders of the two parties announced in a May 2022 joint position statement calling for a 96-Member Senedd, all elected through closed party list proportional representation (using the D'Hondt method), as well as "zipping" of male and female candidates, so at least 50% of those on lists are women,{{Cite web |date=10 May 2022 |title=Press release: A way forward for Senedd reform |url=https://gov.wales/a-way-forward-for-senedd-reform |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=Government of Wales}} but the zipping proposal was later postponed in 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-29 |title=Welsh government: Senedd gender quota plan postponed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67574147 |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
The 2024 act renamed the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales to the "Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru", and gave it the responsibility to conduct boundary reviews of the Senedd constituencies for both the 2026 and 2030 Senedd elections, and regular boundary reviews thereafter.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-17 |title=Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru [HTML] {{!}} GOV.WALES |url=https://www.gov.wales/democracy-and-boundary-commission-cymru-html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.gov.wales |language=en}}
Following the reduction in the number of Welsh MPs and the implementation of new constituency boundaries for the 2024 UK general election,{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Adrian |date=19 October 2022 |title=Number of Welsh MPs to be cut from 40 to 32 under new proposals |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-10-19/fewer-mps-for-wales-under-new-electoral-map |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=ITV News |language=en}} the proposals and subsequently the 2024 act, required the new Senedd constituencies to be contiguous pairings of the 32 UK Parliament constituencies used in Wales since the 2024 UK election.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-03 |title=2026 Review: Initial Proposals {{!}} DBCC |url=https://www.dbcc.gov.wales/reviews/09-24/2026-review-initial-proposals |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.dbcc.gov.wales |language=en-GB}} Therefore there would be 16 constituencies, electing six members each, to replace the existing 40 constituencies and five regions.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Senedd reform {{!}} GOV.WALES |url=https://www.gov.wales/senedd-reform |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=www.gov.wales |language=en}} The commission was also required by the law to give constituencies a single name in both Welsh and English, unless it could be considered unacceptable for a single name.{{Cite web |title=New constituencies for the 2026 Senedd election announced |url=https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/new-constituencies-for-the-2026-senedd-election-announced/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=research.senedd.wales |language=en-GB}} The commission later decided all the new constituencies were to use Welsh-only names.
The review began in July 2024. The 2026 review was time-constricted,{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2025-03-11 |title=New Senedd ‘super constituencies’ confirmed |url=https://nation.cymru/news/new-senedd-super-constituencies-confirmed/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} therefore the subsequent 2030 review, the first full boundary review in 18 years, would provide the commission with more flexibility.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Senedd expansion: Welsh-only names for all Welsh Parliament seats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8rk02g327zo |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Final constituencies created ahead of 2026 Senedd elections |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24999166.16-new-super-constituencies-created-senedd-election/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}
Initial proposals (September 2024)
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru revealed its initial proposals for the proposed new constituencies in September 2024, following the commencement of the review in July 2024.File:Draft proposal (2024) Wales Senedd constituencies map.svg
| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
!Initial proposed Senedd constituency !UK Parliament constituencies |
| rowspan="2" |Bangor Aberconwy Ynys Môn |
| Ynys Môn |
| rowspan="2" |Clwyd |
| Clwyd North |
| rowspan="2" |Alyn, Deeside and Wrexham |
| Wrexham |
| rowspan="2" |Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr |
| Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr |
| rowspan="2" |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire |
| Mid and South Pembrokeshire |
| rowspan="2" |Carmarthenshire |
| Llanelli |
| rowspan="2" |Swansea West and Gower |
| Gower |
| rowspan="2" |Brecon, Radnor, Neath and Swansea East |
| Neath and Swansea East |
| rowspan="2" |Aberafan Maesteg, Rhondda and Ogmore |
| Rhondda and Ogmore |
| rowspan="2" |Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Pontypridd |
| Pontypridd |
| rowspan="2" |Blaenau Gwent, Rhymney and Caerphilly |
| Caerphilly |
| rowspan="2" |Monmouthshire and Torfaen |
| Torfaen |
| rowspan="2" |Newport and Islwyn |
| Newport West and Islwyn |
| rowspan="2" |Cardiff East and North |
| Cardiff North |
| rowspan="2" |Cardiff West, South and Penarth |
| Cardiff South and Penarth |
| rowspan="2" |Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend |
| Bridgend |
Revised proposals (December 2024)
In December 2024, the commission published its revised proposals following a consultation. The two major changes were the switching of the Cardiff constituencies into different pairs,{{Cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/news/revised-senedd-constituency-proposals-published/|title=Revised Senedd constituency proposals published|first=Emily|last=Price|date=17 December 2024|website=Nation.Cymru}} and the announcement that all (except four) of the constituencies will have Welsh-language names only, not having English-language names.
The decision for only Welsh-language names received support from Cymdeithas yr Iaith, but the society called for the remaining four English names to be removed as well. They further suggested cutting the compass directions from the excepted names if needed for them to be Welsh-only. While Andrew RT Davies, former leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called the decision a "disenfranchise[ment]" of English-language only speakers, and called for constituencies covering English-speaking majority areas to have English-language names as well.{{Cite web |date=17 December 2024 |title=Welsh-only names for most new big Senedd seats revealed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7r5medzpgo |website=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=17 December 2024 |title=Proposed Senedd constituency names divides opinion |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-17/proposed-senedd-constituency-names-divides-opinion |work=ITV News}} The commission was required by law to give constituencies a single name for use in both languages, unless it was considered unacceptable. With four constituencies having bilingual names in the revised proposals.
File:Revised proposal (2024) Wales Senedd constituencies labelled map.svg
| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
!Revised proposed Senedd constituency !UK Parliament constituencies |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Afan Ogwr Rhondda}} |
| Rhondda and Ogmore {{native name|cy|Rhondda ac Ogwr}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Bangor Conwy Môn}} |
| Ynys Môn |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni}}
|Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney |
| Caerphilly {{native name|cy|Caerffili}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Gogledd-orllewin Caerdydd}} {{native name|en|Cardiff North-west}} |Cardiff North |
| Cardiff West {{native name|cy|Gorllewin Caerdydd}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|De-ddwyrain Caerdydd Penarth}} {{native name|en|Cardiff South-east Penarth}} |Cardiff East |
| Cardiff South and Penarth {{native name|cy|De Caerdydd a Phenarth}} |
| rowspan="2" |Casnewydd Islwyn
|Newport East |
| Newport West and Islwyn {{native name|cy|Gorllewin Casnewydd ac Islwyn}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Ceredigion Penfro}} |
| Mid and South Pembrokeshire {{native name|cy|Canol a De Sir Benfro}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Clwyd}} |
| Clwyd North |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Fflint Wrecsam}} |
| Wrexham {{native name|cy|Wrecsam}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Gwynedd Maldwyn}} |
| Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr {{native name|cy|Maldwyn a Glyndŵr}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Sir Gâr}} |
| Llanelli |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|De Powys Tawe Nedd}} {{native name|en|South Powys Tawe Neath}} |
| Neath and Swansea East {{native name|cy|Castell Nedd a Dwyrain Abertawe}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Gorllewin Abertawe Gŵyr}} {{native name|en|Swansea West Gower}} |Swansea West |
| Gower {{native name|cy|Gŵyr}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Merthyr Cynon Taf}} |
| Pontypridd |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Mynwy Torfaen}}
|Monmouthshire |
| Torfaen |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg}}
|Vale of Glamorgan |
| Bridgend {{native name|cy|Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr}} |
Final proposals (March 2025)
In March 2025, the commission published its final determinations,{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=2026 Review: Final Determinations {{!}} DBCC |url=https://www.dbcc.gov.wales/reviews/03-25/2026-review-final-determinations |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.dbcc.gov.wales |language=en-GB}} for the 16 constituencies, with the only change in boundaries being to revert the two Cardiff constituencies back to the pairing of the initial proposals, Cardiff North–Cardiff East and Cardiff West–Cardiff South and Penarth, creating Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf and Caerdydd Penarth respectively.
By law, the Senedd must put these final determinations into effect for the 2026 Senedd election without alteration.{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2025-03-11 |title=New Senedd ‘super constituencies’ confirmed |url=https://nation.cymru/news/new-senedd-super-constituencies-confirmed/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} The commission is to conduct another full boundary review of Senedd constituencies following the 2026 election and the first in 18 years, for the subsequent Senedd election scheduled for 2030.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Final constituencies created ahead of 2026 Senedd elections |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24999166.16-new-super-constituencies-created-senedd-election/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}
File:Wales2026SeneddConstituencies labelled map.svg
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Senedd constituency !UK parliament constituencies |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Afan Ogwr Rhondda}} |
| Rhondda and Ogmore {{native name|cy|Rhondda ac Ogwr}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Bangor Conwy Môn}} |
| Ynys Môn |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni}}
|Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney |
| Caerphilly {{native name|cy|Caerffili}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf}}
|Cardiff North |
| Cardiff East
{{native name|cy|Dwyrain Caerdydd}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Caerdydd Penarth}}
|Cardiff West |
| Cardiff South and Penarth {{native name|cy|De Caerdydd a Phenarth}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Casnewydd Islwyn}}
|Newport East |
| Newport West and Islwyn {{native name|cy|Gorllewin Casnewydd ac Islwyn}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Ceredigion Penfro}} |
| Mid and South Pembrokeshire {{native name|cy|Canol a De Sir Benfro}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Clwyd}} |
| Clwyd North |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Fflint Wrecsam}} |
| Wrexham {{native name|cy|Wrecsam}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Gwynedd Maldwyn}} |
| Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr {{native name|cy|Maldwyn a Glyndŵr}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Sir Gaerfyrddin}} |
| Llanelli |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd}} |
| Neath and Swansea East {{native name|cy|Castell Nedd a Dwyrain Abertawe}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Gŵyr Abertawe}}
|Swansea West |
| Gower {{native name|cy|Gŵyr}} |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr}} |
| Pontypridd |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Sir Fynwy Torfaen}}
|Monmouthshire |
| Torfaen |
| rowspan="2" |{{lang|cy|Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg}}
|Vale of Glamorgan |
| Bridgend {{native name|cy|Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr}} |
= Welsh-only names =
In the final proposals, several constituency names were changed, giving all of them a single Welsh-only name, including the remaining four which had been bilingual in the revised proposals. This met the conditions set in law that the constituencies must have a single name for use in Welsh and English, unless it was considered unacceptable.
The use of all Welsh-only names prompted a re-iteration of support from Cymdeithas yr Iaith chairman Joseff Gnagbo, who stated the move to be an "important precedent" for any future constituencies to also have Welsh-only names and for Welsh-only names to be used in other contexts as well. While the move received condemnation from former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies stating that respondents to the commission's consultation mentioned that it "disenfranchised them", commenting that "they were ignored", and that "Wales is bilingual and constituency names should be in both languages".{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Senedd expansion: Welsh-only names for all Welsh Parliament seats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8rk02g327zo |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Other Conservative MSs from Powys claimed the larger constituencies means the link between representatives and constituents "will be lost" and criticised the loss of "Radnorshire" from the map.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |title=Anger as Powys constituency 'wiped off the map' by Senedd boundary changes |url=https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/24998820.new-senedd-constituencies-revealed-powys-commission/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=County Times |language=en}}
The commission stated the Welsh-only names were "acceptable and recognisable for people across Wales". Shreen Williams, the head of the commission, stated that the move prompted a "pushback", but backed it stating that the opposition they received was "primarily [...] anti-Welsh sentiment",{{Cite web |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=2025-03-10 |title=Boundary Commission faces backlash over Welsh-only names for constituencies |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/boundary-commission-faces-backlash-over-31166904 |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Wales Online |language=en}} which was "incredibly disappointing". The final consultation had over 4,000 responses{{Cite web |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=2025-03-11 |title=Wales Senedd election 2026 constituencies confirmed as final maps published |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/wales-senedd-election-2026-constituencies-31172623 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Wales Online |language=en}} and was described by the commission to have received more responses then any other consultation "by a considerable margin".{{Cite web |title=Senedd 2026: Row over Welsh-only names as new constituencies announced |url=https://news.sky.com/story/senedd-2026-row-over-welsh-only-names-as-new-constituencies-announced-13326320 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Sky News |language=en}}