PLANS to cut Welsh MPs by more than a quarter have been revealed after a new Parliamentary map has been published.

The Boundary Commission for Wales is behind the proposals in response to a parliamentary act five years ago demanding a reduction in the number of UK constituencies from 650 to 600.

The changes to Wales’ parliamentary boundaries see the number of MPs slashed from 40 to 29, the biggest cull since 1832. The announcement, which was made on September 13, starts a 12-week consultation.

The proposal would result in Carmarthen East and Dinewr expanding west to become a Carmarthenshire constituency, and the current Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire would become a new South Pembrokeshire.

Responding to the publication of proposed parliamentary constituency changes by the Boundary Commission, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Member of Parliament Jonathan Edwards said:

"It is somewhat ironic that these proposed boundary changes, supposedly being done to reduce the cost of politics, is underway the same time as more than 200 people take up a place as unelected and unaccountable members of the House of Lords.

"As it stands, Wales has a profoundly weaker devolution settlement compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland yet, on these proposals, we will still lose 27 per cent of our MPs, the largest proportional cut in representation of any nation.

"If the boundary changes go through without significantly equalising the Welsh settlement with that of Scotland and Northern Ireland there will be a further democratic deficit.

"A cut in representation must be balanced by meaningful empowerment of our National Assembly. If not, I will be opposing these proposed boundary changes."

Commission secretary Steve Halsall said its review had ticked those two boxes and "local ties" had also been factored into the review, but admitted the commission could not be all-knowing about every part of Wales.

Mr Halsall said: "The people who live and work in an area have a better understanding than we can hope to have."

There will now be five two-day public hearings in Wales in October and November, with one at Carmarthen's Ivy Bush Hotel on October 12 and 13.

After that the commission will publish all responses and hearing transcripts, followed by a four-week window of comment, before a potential revision of the changes next autumn.

The final proposals will be published by the end of September 2018 in time for the 2020 General Election.