It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.

Paul Flynn, of the Labour Party, was the MP from the 1987 general election until his death on 17 February 2019.

[3] Consequently, a by-election was held in the constituency on Thursday 4 April 2019 and Ruth Jones of the Labour Party was elected.

[4] The constituency comprised the electoral divisions of Allt-yr-yn, Bettws, Caerleon, Gaer, Graig, Malpas, Marshfield, Pillgwenlly, Rogerstone, Shaftesbury, Stow Hill and Tredegar Park in the city of Newport.

However, Paul Flynn gained the seat for the Labour Party in 1987 and held it until his death in 2019.