WELSH language campaigners today welcomed the news of using native names for new Senedd constituencies.

The Commission for Democracy and Boundaries Cymru said that only four of the 16 seats for the next election in 2026 will have bilingual names.

Welsh constituencies are being expanded under a new voting system to elect 36 more politicians than at present.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith vice-chairwoman Siân Howys said: “We are pleased to see the proposals that the vast majority of the Senedd’s constituencies will have Welsh-only names from now on.

“Welsh is the unique national language of Wales, and we should be proud of it, use it and promote it so that seeing and hearing Welsh words and placenames becomes normal.

“We will continue to press in our response to the new proposals for also using the Welsh language for the four current exceptions — in Caerdydd and Abertawe.

“It would be possible to give names that do not include compass directions, so that they do not need to be translated, for example, Gwyr-Tawe instead of Swansea West Gower.”