Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth is calling for Ynys Môn to be treated as a ‘special case’ and to be kept as a separate electoral unit.

Following last week’s announcement by the Boundary Commission that Wales is set to lose 11 MPs, Rhun is calling for Ynys Môn to be treated as a preserved constituency, like Orkney and Shetland.

The Rules of the 2011 Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 set out that all constituencies should have an electorate within ±5% of the UK average or quota. However, the Isle of Wight in England and Orkney and Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar in Scotland are not included in this, and are permitted to have an electorate that is more than 5% outside the UK electoral quote.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“Ynys Môn has existed as an unit since the thirteenth century, and it is cherished. As an island, its boundaries are very clearly defined. Taking it off the electoral map as an island constituency would be a blow to the democracy of Ynys Môn and to the people of Ynys Môn. There’s real value in keeping the clear link between the people of the island and those representing them.

“I believe it would also be unfair to a part of the mainland to be treated as an ‘add-on’ to Ynys Mon – where the bulk of any new constituency’s population would live – just to make up the numbers.

“I am calling on the UK government to treat Ynys Môn as a special case, in the same way as they have done with the Isle of Wight and the Scottish Isles. I have raised this issue during First Minister’s Questions in the Assembly, asking what discussions he has had with the UK government on this issue.”