‘It’s not our first language!’ Residents fume after English-speaking area given Welsh only name
A council row has erupted after a predominantly English-speaking part of Wales was given a Welsh only name ahead of the 2026 Senedd Election.
Monmouthshire, which borders Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, is being renamed alongside 15 other new constituencies due to the upcoming expansion of the Welsh Parliament.
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru announced in December that most of the seats would have Welsh language names.
However, four new seats – Cardiff North West, Cardiff South East & Penarth, South Powys Tawe & Neath and Swansea West Gower – will remain bilingual.
Raglan Councillor Penny Jones earlier this week asked if Monmouthshire Council would support a bilingual name for the new constituency.
Monmouthshire will likely be paired with nearby Torfaen, with the name Mynwy Torfaen being earmarked by Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.
However, the proportion of residents in Monmouthshire who are able to speak Welsh stood at just 8.7 per cent in 2021.
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Despite the national average standing at 17.8 per cent, the figure is even lower in Torfaen where only 8.2 per cent can speak Welsh.
Councillor Angela Sandles, the Labour’s Cabinet Member for Equalities, said that while Monmouthshire has suggested an amendment to the name, it is to add an additional Welsh word.
The Caldicot councillor said: “In our submission we requested a change to Sir Fynwy / Torfaen to better reflect the county rather than the locality, Monmouth.”
Cllr Jones, who is a Tory, voiced her opposition to a Welsh only name, adding: “How can the residents of Monmouthshire be assured that this administration is working on their behalf to maintain the identity of Monmouthshire and all that that embodies?”
She added: “Many residents are angry at the imposition of constituency name changes that are not bilingual and it must not be forgotten despite the Welsh Government target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 that would only mean one in three would do so and it is not the first language of Monmouthshire.”
Cllr Sandles argued that councillors and others had the opportunity to respond to the commission’s consultation and also reminded councillors the 2026 boundaries are set to be further reviewed ahead of the following Senedd election in 2030.
Monmouthshire, which for centuries was claimed as being part of both England and Wales, witnessed a separate language-related row earlier this month.
The council was accused of breaching its Welsh language standards after saying it was acceptable to have English only signs.
Monmouthshire Council was later forced to agree to bilingual signage going forward.