Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay has spoken out at the Assembly following the Welsh Government’s revisited plans to merge Welsh councils.

Plans to merge Monmouthshire with are on the table once again following  the Welsh Government’s publication of a Green Paper which proposes to merge Monmouthshire with Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen.  

Speaking in the Senedd last week Mr Ramsay said the proposals lacked substance, adding that plans had not considered Monmouthshire’s ‘success’ in local governance.

“It’s not the case that across the whole of Wales local government has been a total disaster,” he said.

“It does sound a little bit like something from Nineteen Eighty-Four - very Orwellian - perhaps there’s something behind this.”

Mr Ramsay added that he felt the move would be firmly rejected by Monmouthshire constituents.

“So, if you want to come to my area at some point, I’ll take you around one of the country shows, and I’m sure you’ll get people’s opinions very quickly,” said Mr Ramsay.