Proposed new Senedd constituency is "confusing" says MS

Montgomeryshire Member of the Senedd, Russell George, has said plans to include his electorate in a new ‘super constituency’ that stretches from the Llyn Peninsula to the English border are “confusing” to voters.

Mr George was reacting to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru proposals for redrawing the Senedd constituencies ahead of the 2026 elections, a move set to significantly alter the political landscape in Wales and increase elected Senedd members from 60 to 96.

Among the proposals, a notable change is the combination of the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency with the Dwyfor Meirionnydd seat.

Each of the 16 new constituencies will elect six Members of the Senedd using the D’Hondt method, currently employed for regional lists in the Senedd.

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

“The initial proposals will see Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, paired with Dwyfor Meirionnydd. People will rightly be confused as to which of the six 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.”

Currently, 60 Senedd Members are elected with 40 representing individual constituencies and 20 from broader regional areas. The area of Glyndwr was taken from Wrexham and added to the seat of Montgomeryshire at the recent General Election.