A General Election pact among pro-Remain parties has led to fewer candidates in Dwyfor Meirionnydd for the vote on 12 December.

In a bid to increase the chances of more Remain MPs being elected, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have agreed to stand aside for each other in three of north Wales’ 10 constituencies, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Arfon and Ynys Môn.

Under the banner of ‘Unite to Remain’, the bid has come under criticism by opponents for “depriving voters of choice and showing their contempt for democracy”.

But Plaid Cymru – the main north Wales beneficiaries of the arrangement – say it has the potential to “stop the Brexit chaos and elect the most Plaid Cymru MPs ever”.

In north west Wales, where both the Greens and Lib Dems won’t be standing candidates, Plaid Cymru already holds two of the three seats.

As a result, all three parties will be putting aside their political differences in 11 of Wales’ 40 seats despite Plaid’s long-standing aim of an independent Wales not being shared by the other two parties.

Elsewhere, Plaid Cymru will not face competition from either party in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, Caerphilly, Pontypridd and Llanelli.

Meanwhile, Plaid will not be fielding candidates in Montgomeryshire, Brecon and Radnorshire nor Cardiff Central to give the Liberal Democrats a free run, while both parties are standing aside for the Greens in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Liberal Democrats, despite disappointing results in polls following the 2010 coalition with the Conservatives, will be hoping that their strong anti-Brexit message will see a resurgence this time out.

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