NEWPORT could be left with just one MP while parts of the city are merged into Cardiff or Monmouthshire under a review of constituency boundaries in Wales, a report has predicted.

The Boundary Commission for Wales is currently undertaking a review of parliamentary constituencies in Wales, with a view to cutting the number of Welsh MPs from 40 to 29.

Although the organisation is not due to present its initial proposals until Tuesday, September 13, political commentator Harry Hayfield has put together an exhaustive prediction of the shape the recommendations could take.

Among the predictions of the report posted online by Roger Scully of the Wales Governance Centre are that a single Newport constituency will be created, while Langstone, Llanwern and Ringland will be incorporated in Monmouthshire.

Meanwhile, Graig and Rogerstone, as well as the Morgan Jones, Risca and St James areas of Caerphilly, will form part of a Cardiff East and Rogerstone area constituency and the majority of Blaenau Gwent and Islwyn will be merged.

The remaining parts of Blaenau Gwent – Georgetown, Sirhowy and Tredegar Central and West – will be incorporated in Caerphilly while Islwyn and a small portion of Monmouthshire to the extreme west will become a new Pontypool constituency.

The study also predicts all of these will elect a Labour MP, apart from Monmouthshire which will, as it does now, vote Conservative. This will mean residents in Langstone, Llanwern and Ringland formerly represented by a Labour MP would now be represented by a Conservative.

But long-serving Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who could be set to lose the seat he has held since 1987 under the plans, hit out at the proposals.

“It's galling that the number of elected representatives are being cut while the government is increasing the number of unelected lords, many because of the donations they have given to political parties,” he said.

“It's deviant democracy designed to diminish the power of the voters.

“If the cut has to happen, we must ensure that Newport and the rest of Gwent have constituency boundaries that guarantee strong representation.”

And Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith said he did not place any stock in the study, saying: “All of this is guesswork”.

Overall the report concludes Labour and the Conservatives would both lose five MPs, leaving them with 20 and six respectively, while all three Plaid Cymru representatives would retain their seats. The Liberal Democrats would also lose their only MP in Wales if the predictions are correct.

The new constituencies will have electorate sizes of between 71,031 and 78,507 based on the electoral register as it stood on December 1 2015.

A consultation into the proposed changes will be launched after the interim recommendations are presented. The full recommendations are due to be presented by September 2018. Welsh Assembly constituency boundaries will not be affected by the review.

For more information on the Boundary Commission’s review call 029 2046 4819 or email bcomm.wales@wales.gsi.gov.uk.