Mundell on the move

Published 14 Oct 2011 09:30 1 Comment

LOCAL MP David Mundell has admitted he would be "disappointed" if his constituency was broken-up ahead of the next general election in 2015.

It follows the proposals by the Boundary Commission for Scotland to scrap the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat in the House of Commons.

The move comes after parliament decided to reduce the number of Westminster seats from 650 to 600.

It is proposed residents in the Scottish Borders Council wards of Tweeddale East and Tweeddale West would be better served, along with residents in the Midlothian Council area, by the new seat of Midlothian and Tweeddale.

Mr Mundell - the only Tory MP from north of the border - told the Peeblesshire News: "I support their being fewer MPs at Westminster and I support the idea that constituencies should have roughly same electorate, giving everyone's vote the same value. The Boundary Commission have come up with their independent report on that basis, and that will now be the basis of consultation which I encourage people to take part in."

But he added: "Obviously I would be disappointed if my Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency were to be broken-up and split three different ways."

The Boundary Commission this week published detailed proposals to cut seven Scottish MPs, reducing the number from 59 to 52, and they will now go out to public consultation for 12 weeks, before being considered further.

Mr Mundell, who increased his majority at the last election, said: "This is very much the beginning of a process.

"Local people will have opportunities to make their feelings on that known at the public hearings which will be held in November.

"Final decisions on the new boundaries will only be made after the consultation periods come to an end, which will be in 2013."

And he added: "Until then I will continue to represent all of my current constituents to the best of my ability."

Meanwhile, it has been proposed the neighbouring constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, which is currently held by Liberal Democrat MP Michael Moore, would remain largely unchanged.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 14 Oct 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  bill3459
  15 posts
  Oct 14, 12:43
  Report comment

  No as disapointed as i would to see another robbing gypsy bas---- out of a job . Waste of bloody space the whole lot of them . Lining there own pockets and bugger the working class. After all thats all there good at . Bring back the town councils that was the way . It worked then and would work again
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 38

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