Constituency changes could prove "confusing"

MP Drew Hendry is criticising Boundary Commission proposals which suggest dividing up his constituency to create the new constituencies Highland North, Highland South, and also Nairn and Moray.

Across the UK, the number of constituencies is being reduced from 650 to 600.

The Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch, and Strathspey MP said, "Who can say whether they're in north Highland or south Highland - that means different things to different people"

"What it shows is that Westminster is out of touch with Scotland, it doesn't take into account any of the geography or the history of our area"

In Scotland there will be a decrease from 59 to 53 constituencies with similar reductions in each part of the UK.

The Commission started the 2018 Review on the 24th of February 2016 and will report to the Secretary of State for Scotland in September 2018, so that the new constituencies can be considered for approval by Parliament and be available for use in the General Election - expected around in May 2022.

Mr Hendry also said: "Most people when they need to get in touch with their MP they can find that out pretty easily, they have a clear idea about who to approach, and it should be made straightforward who the individual representatives are"

"This idea of having north and south is just going to lead to confusion, plus the fact that they're enormous constituencies and huge geographical areas"

The largest proposed constituency by area is Highland North, at 12,985 square kilometres (currently Ross, Skye and Lochaber at 12,768 square kilometres).

"These boundary changes lump areas together in huge constituencies", said Mr Hendry, "There is the opportunity to push for changes and some sense to be seen over these proposals - set to take away the names and identities of traditional constituencies - we have the opportunity to work with others to do this, and if the government are listening, then they should consider a review of these boundary change proposals"

The proposed constituency with highest electorate, at 78,477, will be Moray and Nairn (currently Linlithgow and East Falkirk at 83,593).

The consultation will run until 11 December 2017.

Members of the public and interested parties can get further information and submit views on the Commission’s interactive portal here. Further information can be found on the commission's website here.