New boundaries 'defy logic' say angry MPs
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‘ABSOLUTELY mad’ constituency boundary changes will leave Highland communities nearly 180 miles apart with the same MP – a distance greater than driving from Wales’ south to north coasts.
The Electorial Commission last week published proposed new boundary changes which are intended to cut the number of MPs in Westminster from 650 to 600.
The changes are aimed at creating constituencies with similar population sizes. But this has caused consternation among parts of the UK with lower population densities, which are facing a cull in the number of MPs. The Highlands is among those areas being hit, with its MPs being cut from three to two – should the recommendations be approved.
Drew Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said the proposals "defy logic". He said: "We should be working to bring democracy closer to people not further away. These proposals show a complete lack of understanding of the Highlands and Islands, our communities and our landscape. As I outlined in my response to the consultation, the proposed changes defy logic and geography.
"Instead of trying to further reduce the representation for the people of the Highlands in Westminster, this Government should focus on removing the unelected house of lords which remains a shameful blot on our democracy."
His anger was shared by Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP, Ian Blackford, who added: "My constituency is already 12,000 sq km. It is 15 per cent of the land mass of Scotland. Contrast that with Northern Ireland, which has a land mass of just over 14,000 square kilometres, you can see that the current situation in itself is bad enough.
"But to then make those areas even larger, where you’re getting to a situation where three Highlands and Islands MPs are covering an area larger than Belgium, then you really are getting into a situation that is beyond all reproach."
Highland MSP Kate Forbes shared his concerns, tweeting that the proposals were "absolute madness".
One of the new constituencies, Highland North, is larger – at 12,985 sq km – than countries such as Jamaica, Qatar, Lebanon and Cyprus.
The village at Applecross and John O’Groats are both located within that proposed constituency – separated by a drive of 176 miles. The most direct route from Cardiff on the south coast of Wales to Liverpool, just over the border from Wales’ northern shores, is only 172 miles.
The Highland Central constituency, in which Inverness will sit, also features some lengthy distances. Grantown-on-Spey and Dunvegan on Skye will both find themselves with the same MP under the proposals – despite being separated by 158 miles.
Other critics highlighted the ‘lack’ of geographical logic behind some of the new boundaries. Communities along the Beauly Firth’s southern shore will be in a different constituency from Inverness – but Uig on Skye will not. Elsewhere, Highland North contains Applecross but the nearby village of Lochcarron, with which it is closely linked, is in Highland Central.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland has defended its proposals, arguing that population limits for each new constituency had tied its hands.
It said: "We noted that many respondents had objected to the size of the constituencies in the revised proposals, particularly Highland North, and that these objections were understandable. However... the number of electors in each constituency and the low population density of the areas in question meant creating large constituencies could not be avoided."
