Wales Minister Could Lose His Constituency In Commons Cull

Wales Minister Could Lose His Constituency

Wales minister David Jones could lose his Commons seat, under proposed boundary changes unveiled on Wednesday.

The Clwyd West MP looks to be facing a fight for his political life after the Boundary Commission for Wales recommended his seat be merged with fellow Tory Guto Bebb's Aberconwy to create a new North Wales constituency.

Part of Clwyd West is proposed to go into a Glyndwr and North Powys constituency but Montgomeryshire's Conservative Member Glyn Davies could also have his eye on that.

Wales is set to see its number of MPs drop from 40 to 30 following the passage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act which reduced the size of the House of Commons from 650 to 600 seats.

The coalition argued that the cut was necessary to reduce the cost of politics and to equalize the size of constituencies so that voters had their voices heard fairly.

Provisional proposals for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were announced last year.

The Conservatives could also lose two more MPs as Jonathan Evan's Cardiff North seat looks set to be merged with Caerphilly, held by Labour's Wayne David. While Simon Hart's Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South seat looks to have been erased from the map.

Labour looks like losing in the Valleys with Huw Irranca-Davies' Ogmore merged with Hywel Francis' Aberavon and Chris Evans' Islwyn with Nick Smith's Blaenau Gwent.

Ann Clwyd's Cynon Valley is combined with Dai Havard's Merthyr Tydfil in the planned Heads of the Valleys constituency.

And Geraint Davies' Swansea West would be merged with Martin Caton's Gower.

In North Wales, the party would see Clwyd South disappear and most of its current Delyn and Vale of Clwyd seats incorporated into a new Dee Estuary constituency.

Responding to the commission's proposals, a Welsh Labour spokesman said the boundary review would reduce Wales' voice and influence in Westminster.

"The publication of these initial proposals means that communities can now start the important discussion about the future of democratic representation here in Wales, a process that Welsh Labour will be taking a very firm lead on.

"We will be considering the proposals in detail, working with our elected representatives and party members to build a consensus on the best way forward for the people of Wales."

The commission's final proposals are expected to be submitted to Parliament by October 2013.

Ben Whitestone, secretary to the commission, said the commission had sought to produce a new map that was suitable to "local needs".

"I would emphasise that these are initial proposals and I very much hope that members of the public will participate in the process of consultation which now begins," he said.

Whitestone stressed the plans were fully independent, saying the commission's proposals did not take into account "any political consideration".

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