PROPOSALS which could see the Islwyn Parliamentary seat scrapped have been slammed by the constituency’s branch of the Labour Party.

Last month the Boundary Commission for Wales presented its initial proposals for a review of Parliamentary seats as part of a plan to cut the overall number of UK MPs by 50 to 600.

Among its proposals are to scrap the Islwyn seat currently held by Labour’s Chris Evans, with its northern section becoming part of Blaenau Gwent, the southern part joining Caerphilly and Aberbargoed falling into Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.

But chairman of the Islwyn Labour Party Cllr Tom Williams branded the idea “a disgrace”, accusing the Conservative-controlled Westminster government of “trying to gerrymander a permanent Tory majority in Parliament”.

“If Islwyn constituency was abolished, it would lead to a damning democratic deficit for the voters of Islwyn,” he said.

Islwyn Labour spokesman Cllr Gez Kirby also criticised the plans.

"For generations, our Valleys communities have been part of the Islwyn constituency, and before that Bedwellty,” he said.

“Great MPs such as Don Touhig, Neil Kinnock and Sir Arnold Finch have represented and spoken up for the people of Islwyn.

“We don't want our villages and communities to be shuffled off into other constituencies with which have nothing in common.

“We want to keep Islwyn."

Last month Mr Evans branded the proposals “extremely disappointing”.

“Many of the reformed constituencies make very little geographical sense and the majority of my constituents will be unhappy with these plans,” he said.

The Labour MP, who was first elected in 2010, added he believed the review would only add to the political uncertainty following the result of June’s referendum.

“I will do everything I can to fight for the community to be represented together as one in Parliament,” he said.

Other recommendations include creating a single Newport constituency comprising Alway, Beechwood, Liswerry, Ringland, St Julians and Victoria in the east and Allt-yr-yn, Bettws, Gaer, Malpas, Marshfield, Pill, Shaftesbury, Stow Hill and Tredegar Park in the west, with Langstone, Llanwern and the remainder of Newport East merged into Monmouth, Graig and Rogerstone joining Caerphilly and Caerleon becoming part of Torfaen.

Croesyceiliog and Llanyfron, currently in Monmouth, will also be merged into Torfaen while the northern part of Caerphilly from Nelson upwards will become part of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.

A consultation into the proposals will close on Monday, December 5. For information visit bcomm-wales.gov.uk.