Important not to be distracted by possible boundary changes

This week the Boundary Commission published its initial proposals for change in Devon and Cornwall as part of its review of English constituencies. It is charged with the task of ensuring that their electorates are more or less equal. That is a principle with which it is hard to disagree. It is wrong that across the country it should require a much smaller number of votes in some constituencies to elect an MP than in others. Therefore, when the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill came before Parliament I supported it knowing that it might produce some unwelcome consequences.

However, it is now suggested that Torridge should be split between three constituencies, a new Bude and Bideford constituency extending beyond Camelford, a new Tavistock and Plympton seat extending from the Plymouth suburbs northwards to include Halwill, and a redrawn Central Devon.

I find it difficult to understand the logic behind the Commission's initial proposals. The cross-county constituency could more appropriately have been achieved by joining Saltash to Plymouth. Saltash has already close social and economic links to Plymouth while Torridge's interests are not well aligned with those, say, of Bude or Camelford, with which a major part of it would be twinned. My fear is also that by dividing up the responsibility for Torridge between a new constituency also straddling a vast tract of Cornwall, and two other redrawn Devon seats crossing several local authority boundaries, the particular needs of Torridge will not receive the exclusive attention they deserve. I am dismayed and saddened by the changes to long established patterns of representation this might mean.

However, these are merely initial suggestions and there is a long way to go before they are adopted or final. I shall be making strong submissions to the Commission and I would encourage as many constituents as possible to become involved in the consultation. In the meantime, I do not intend to be distracted by these still distant prospective changes from the task of representing the communities of Torridge and West Devon vigorously and bringing the attention of the government to the opportunities and vital needs of our area.