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The candidates standing to be your voice in parliament at this year’s general election have been confirmed.

The election, called last month by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, takes place on Thursday July 4,

It will be the first election held since the constituency boundaries were redrawn – with Wales seeing the number of MPs it sends to Westminster reduced from 40 to 32.

Candidates standing in seats covering Caerphilly County Borough were officially confirmed on Friday June 7.

Who are the candidates?

Caerphilly

• Aicheler, Steve – Liberal Democrats
• Evans, Chris – Welsh Labour
• Gorman, Brandon – Welsh Conservatives
• Kim, Joshua Seungkyun – Reform UK
• Thomas, Mark – Green Party
• Whittle, Lindsay Geoffrey – Plaid Cymru

Newport West and Islwyn

• Etheridge, George – Independent
• Ham, Brandon – Plaid Cymru
• Hamilton, Mike – Welsh Liberal Democrats
• Jones, Nick – Conservative Party
• Jones, Ruth – Welsh Labour
• Taylor, Paul – Reform UK
• Vosper, Kerry – Green Party

Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney

• Baker, Ann – Green Party
• Charlton, Jackie – Welsh Liberal Democrats
• Griffiths, Robert – Communist Party of Britain
• Iqbal, Yas – Workers Party
• Jarvis, Hannah Elizabeth – Welsh Conservatives
• Salkeld, Niamh – Plaid Cymru
• Smith, Nick – Welsh Labour
• Whatley, Mike – Independent
• Sutherland, Stewart – Reform UK

What are the new constituencies?

Under the new boundaries, Caerphilly County Borough would still cover three constituencies.

The new Caerphilly constituency will be made up of: Morgan Jones, St James, and St Martin’s (which cover Caerphilly town), Aber Valley, Penyrheol, Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Nelson, Llanbradach, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, St Catwg, with the new additions of Pengam, Pontllanfraith, Maesycwmmer and Ynysddu.

The new seat of Newport West and Islwyn will include the wards of Abercarn, Argoed, Blackwood, Crosskeys, Crumlin, Newbridge, Penmaen, Risca East, Risca West and Cefn Fforest. They would be linked with the Newport council wards of Allt yr Yn, Gaer, Graig, Marshfield, Rogerstone and Tredegar Park.

Aberbargoed, which alongside Bargoed, Gilfach and the Upper Rhymney Valley, would become part of the new Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney constituency.

The Boundary Commission has said it took geography, such as lakes, rivers and mountains, as well as local authority and council ward boundaries, into account when creating its initial proposals. It also said local ties, such as shared history and culture, were taken into account.