96 Senedd members will represent 16 ‘super constituencies’ after the 2026 Senedd election
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has today (11/03/2025) released its final determination for redrawing the Senedd constituencies ahead of the 2026 elections, a move set to significantly alter the political landscape in Wales.
Among the final determination, a notable change is the combination of the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr Westminster constituency with the Dwyfor Meirionnydd seat to form a new Senedd constituency, which will be called Gwynedd Maldwyn.
The Senedd will expand to allow 96 Senedd Members to be elected. Each constituency will elect six Members of the Senedd (MS) using the D’Hondt method, currently employed for regional lists in the Senedd.
Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George, has said that there is no public mandate for either a larger Senedd or for the proposed changes to the voting system.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George said:
“No longer would just one member represent a constituency, but several Senedd Members will represent a larger area. In my view, the link between constituent and Senedd member will be lost. Voters understand and expect to have a close relationship with their constituency member and to be able to hold them accountable if not.
‘’There is no public mandate for either a larger Senedd or for the proposed changes to the voting system, so none of these proposals should be implemented, and certainly not without the public having their say in a referendum. A Welsh Conservative amendment to the Bill calling for a referendum was not supported by other parties.
‘’My concern is that future Senedd members will owe their position not to a personal relationship with voters, but instead to their party bosses. This, I believe, is wrong and bad for democracy. It will cost up to £18 million a year, or the equivalent of 650 nurses.
‘’Welsh Conservatives have consistently opposed Labour and Plaid’s Senedd expansion proposals. Not once have I knocked on a door and spoken to a resident that thinks the solution to Wales’ problems is to spend countless millions in perpetuity on more politicians, and it’s my view that we do not need more politicians, what we really need is more doctors, dentists, and teachers.”