Comment DBCC-7053

Initial Proposals for the 2026 review of Senedd constituencies: Alternative Names

Thank you for the opportunity to submit a response to the Commission’s initial proposals for the 2026 review of Senedd constituencies, as published in September 2024. In the following reply, Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre responds primarily to the Commission’s request for representations that offer alternative suggestions to the constituency names in the initial document.
The Commission is of course extremely limited in its room for manoeuvre given the terms set by the Act. While alternative twinning proposals might be forthcoming in the next stages of this review, we believe the Commission’s initial proposals reflect a suitable first position for the post-2026 Senedd boundaries.
In contrast with this very limited room for manoeuvre in setting the twinned boundaries, the Commission has much greater flexibility in naming the proposed seats. Indeed, because future Senedd boundary reviews are likely to be decoupled from Westminster constituencies to maintain a 96 member-Senedd, the Commission has a particular responsibility to embed names for the new seats that will likely survive beyond the names of many of the 32 current Westminster constituencies. Establishing Welsh- language names that reflect local geographies and populations – names that presage future permanence and stability for constituencies that will elect members to the Senedd – will be a particularly important outcome for this first boundary review.

Our view is that the constituency names suggested in the initial proposals are much too long for their routine use in elections and parliamentary proceedings, and that alternatives better reflecting their local geographies are readily available. Brevity in constituency naming is extremely important; as is linking these new monikers to traditional Welsh geographies. Given the size of the new constituencies and the number of population centres that most include, geographic features such as rivers or mountain

ranges may be a more convenient and appropriate means to designate constituencies rather than a listing of towns or other settlements.
We therefore propose the following alternative constituency names, ordered geographically from north-west to south-east:
1. Aberconwy, Môn a Menai. This formation avoids the lengthy version of the name proposed in the initial proposals yet incorporates all major elements of the proposed constituency.
2. Bryniau Clwyd a'r Glannau. The name ‘Clwyd’ as suggested in the initial proposals is an unsuitable name for the proposed seat because the post-1996 preserved county of Clwyd covers the area from Llanfairfechan to Bangor-on-Dee. The alternative seat name reflects the two primary features of the proposed constituency: the upland area around Bryniau Clwyd (the Clwydian Range), plus the long coastal sweep of the northeast coast.
3. Maelor. This alternative recognises the historic commotes/cymydau of Maelor Gymraeg and Maelor Saesneg in the north east of Wales that formed the majority of the new constituency’s area and population (https://rcahmw.gov.uk/mapping-the-historic- boundaries-of-wales-commotes-and-cantrefs/), offering a simple and short version for the constituency name which is well known for the regional hospital. A second alternative - Wrecsam Dyfrdwy – would link the two major elements of this seat. The local water company is named Hafren Dyfrdwy, such that constructions such as these are familiar.
4. Gwynedd, Maldwyn a Glyndŵr. The name suggested in the initial proposals is too long. In the western part of this seat, although the local authority area of Gwynedd extends beyond the boundaries of this seat towards Bangor and Abergwyngregyn, a means to shorten the proposed constituency name is necessary. ‘Gwynedd’ is sufficiently representative of the area contained in the Dwyfor Meirionnydd seat.
5. Ceredigion Penfro.

6. Sir Gâr.
7. Gŵyr. This is a geographically and historically politically accurate name for this proposed paired constituency – the commote/cwmwd of Gŵyr, which included modern- day Swansea (see https://rcahmw.gov.uk/mapping-the-historic-boundaries-of-wales- commotes-and-cantrefs/). Using the historic Welsh name distinguishes from the constituency of ‘Gower’ at Westminster level.
8. Tawe, Nedd a’r Bannau. The name suggested in the initial proposals is much too long. This alternative reflects the primary geographical features of the coastal areas and the most prominent geographical feature of the inland area. Although Brecon and Radnorshire has been a longstanding name for the area’s first-past-the-post seat,

simplification of the conjoint constituency name is necessary to avoid overcomplexity and confusion. We also note that the majority of the proposed constituency’s electorate is located close to the lower Tawe and Nedd valleys and Swansea Bay.

9. Rhondda Ogwr Afan. This seat name reflects the largest rivers and political communities in this proposed constituency.
10. Cynon Taf. This name reflects the two most prominent rivers and political communities in this proposed constituency. The ordering of ‘Cynon Taf’ is alphabetic but also deliberately recalls the county name of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
11. Cwm Rhymni a Blaenau Gwent. This alternative name reflects the two former district councils and geographic/political communities that form this proposed constituency. Inclusion of the word ‘Cwm’ is deliberate, to distinguish from the village of Rhymney and recognise the pairing of the Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney constituency with the southern part of the Rhymney valley (i.e. the Caerphilly constituency).
12. Mynwy Torfaen. This alternative name reflects the two councils and geographic/political communities that form this proposed constituency. The ‘a’/’and’ link should be avoided here because ‘a Thorfaen’ would be an awkward phrasing in the English language.
13. Casnewydd Islwyn; or Gwynllwg. An available historic alternative for proposed Newport and Islwyn constituency would be the cantref of Gwynllwg whose area closely mapped onto the proposed area (see https://rcahmw.gov.uk/mapping-the- historic-boundaries-of-wales-commotes-and-cantrefs/). Gwynllwg was the area between the Rhymney and Usk rivers, including the upland and valleys area to the north. This historic identity survives not only in the name of the Cathedral, hospital and the district surrounding it in Newport – dedicated to Saint Gwynllyw (later altered to St. Woolos) – but also in Pillgwenlly (orig. ‘Pîl Gwynllyw’), the Wentlooge area, and village names such as Llanbedr Gwynllŵg and Llansanffraid Gwynllŵg.

14. Dwyrain Caerdydd.

15. Gorllewin Caerdydd.
16. Penybont a Bro Morgannwg. We recommend reversing the ordering of the two parts of the combined constituency that was suggested in the initial proposals, because the resulting ‘a Phenybont’ would be an awkward phrasing in the English language.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to respond to the Commission’s initial proposals for the 2026 Senedd constituencies, and thank you for your work so far on this important reform.

Yr eiddoch yn gywir,

[REDACTED]

Respondent type

On behalf of an organisation (private or public)

Organisation name

Cardiff University Wales Governance Centre

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.