All you need to know before voters go to the polls in the Newport by-election

THE death of Paul Flynn means Newport West will have a new MP for the first time since 1987.

The constituency, which was created in 1982, encompasses the majority of the city centre, which has seen significant redevelopment in recent years, as well as some of the area’s most well-known landmarks.

It covers Caerleon, notable as the site of a former Roman fortress and an Iron Age hill fort as well as Malpas, Bettws, Bassaleg, Rogerstone, Marshfield and Duffryn, with Friars Walk, the city docks and the Celtic Manor Resort all falling within its borders.

In 1982 it was won for the Conservatives by Mark Robinson. But five years later, in 1987, Paul Flynn snatched the seat for Labour - and successfully defended it in seven subsequent General Elections, most recently in 2017, when he was aged 82.

But last year his health began to fail, and in October Mr Flynn announced he planned to stand down. Ultimately, the decision was made for him, and he died on Sunday, February 17.

With the by-election called for Thursday, April 4, a total of 11 parties have thrown their hats into the ring - Labour are hoping to retain the constituency, but face stiff competition from usual suspects the Conservatives, Ukip, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Greens, as well as outliers Renew, the Social Democratic party, For Britain, the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, and the Democrats and Veterans Party.

While Labour's Ruth Jones is the bookies' favourite, these are far from normal times, and in reality almost anything could happen.

The constituency encompasses the majority of the city centre, which has seen significant redevelopment in recent years, as well as some of the area’s most well-known landmarks.

The constituency covers Caerleon, notable as the site of a former Roman fortress and an Iron Age hill fort as well as Malpas, Bettws, Bassaleg, Rogerstone, Marshfield and Duffryn, with Friars Walk, the city docks and the Celtic Manor Resort all falling within its borders.

The ongoing regeneration of the city centre has drastically changed the face of the constituency in recent years, with the long-awaited Friars Walk opening in November 2015 and more projects – including a new development at the University of South Wales city campus – set to go ahead in the near future.

The planned M4 relief road could also have a significant impact on residents and businesses in the area, as it will cut through the southern part of the constituency before rejoining the existing stretch of motorway.

Newport voted to leave the European Union in last year’s referendum, with 55.99 per cent of voters in the city backing Brexit. Although official breakdowns of voting patterns by constituency are not available, anecdotally a slightly lower percentage of people in Newport West voted to leave the EU than in Newport East.

The constituency was also the site of one of the most important events in the development of modern-day democracy when, in 1839, an estimated 10,000 Chartist demonstrators marched on the city centre, where 22 of them were killed by troops.

As with much of the rest of Gwent, unemployment in Newport West is higher than the national average, while weekly pay is £18.70 lower than the national average.

But house prices are significantly lower than the national average at £183,000 - £47,000 cheaper than the UK-wide average. But homes just over the river in Newport East are cheaper still, at an average of £150,000.

AT A GLANCE - NEWPORT WEST

Population: 88,258, of whom 64,382 are eligible to vote

Number of these aged 65 or older: 16,281 (18.4 per cent)

Unemployment: 4.8 per cent (UK average 4.2 per cent)

Average weekly pay: £552.40 (UK average £571.10)

Average house price: £183,000 (UK average £230,000)

Number of people on disability benefits: 4,060 (4.6 per cent)

Number of businesses: 3,095

YOUR CANDIDATES

- Jonathan Clark, Plaid Cymru

- June Davies, Renew

- Matthew Evans, Conservative