It used to be regarded as a safe Conservative area, but since boundaries were changed and it became Clwyd West, it has been held by Labour at both Westminster and the assembly in recent years.

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As a result, he said Lib Dem MPs could not now support Conservative-driven changes to Commons boundaries in 2015.

BBC: Nick Clegg: Lords reform plans to be abandoned

Questioned by Conservative ex-cabinet minister Peter Lilley about how he would justify devoting much parliamentary time to Lords reform in the coming year, at a time of economic crisis, Mr Clegg rather pointedly noted that parliament had also devoted quite a lot of time to changing constituency boundaries - an exercise beloved of Conservative high command.

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He has suggested many Lib Dem MPs would find it "hard to swallow" proposed changes to Commons constituency boundaries in 2015 - thought to favour Conservative chances of getting a future majority - if changes to the House of Lords do not proceed.

BBC: UK Politics

But author and Conservative peer Lord Dobbs accused Mr Clegg of inventing a link between constituency boundaries and Lords reform as an excuse to "exact a little retribution" from his coalition partners.

BBC: Peers vote to block MP constituency boundary changes

The Conservative party's decision to select its candidates for the 2015 general election on existing boundaries is probably a more accurate guide to what is likely to happen.

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Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps has told the BBC he "hasn't given up hope" changes to constituency boundaries will happen.

BBC: Grant Shapps still hopes MP boundary changes will happen

David Cameron told Welsh Conservative MPs he didn't want "any silliness" when the Boundary Commission published its plans for new constituency boundaries.

BBC: Breaking down the boundaries