PROPOSALS to move the Okehampton area into a new parliamentary constituency will 'tear up historic ties', the area's MP has warned.

The Boundary Commission's revised proposals issued last week redraw parliamentary boundaries in Devon, to create a new Central Devon constituency, including a large area of West Devon.

It would mean the Okehampton area would leave the West Devon and Torridge constituency and be grouped with wards in Exeter.

John Burnett, Liberal Democrat MP for West Devon and Torridge, said the commission's decision to take Okehampton and the surrounding area out of his constituency was 'crazy', as rural Devon shared little identity, interest or way of life with wards on the outskirts of Exeter.

Mr Burnett said the commission should be trying to reduce the number of seats rather than tearing up historic ties.

'The Government's approach is entirely wrong. They should be instructing the Boundary Commission to come up with proposals that would leave us with far fewer MPs,' he said.

'If every constituency had the same populations as mine, we would have 100 fewer MPs, and that is the direction we should be moving in.

'I feel it is hugely mistaken to take Okehampton and the surrounding area and lump it in with the outskirts of Exeter, with which there is no affinity.

'It will create a disparate constituency containing suburban parts of East Devon and really rural areas like Okehampton and Hatherleigh.'

Mr Burnett said Okehampton had always been the 'central point' of the constituency for himself and several of his predecessors, many of whom, like him, ran local party offices from the town.

The Boundary Commission is an independent body, with the task of reviewing the boundaries of constituencies every ten years or so, to ensure an approximately equal number of people is represented in each parliamentary seat.

A public inquiry was held last December following objections to provisional recommendations. The name of the proposed new seat is recommended to be changed to Central Devon rather than Mid-Devon as originally suggested.

The new seat would stretch from Hatherleigh to Kenn Valley, south of Exeter, taking in towns such as Okehampton and Chagford.

Nine wards of the borough of West Devon would be incorporated into the new constituency. These are Chagford, Drewsteignton, Exbourne, Hatherleigh, Lew Valley, North Tawton, Okehampton East, Okehampton West and South Tawton.

The constituency would be made up of four wards from Exeter, as well as those from Teignbridge and Mid Devon, and would have a total electorate of 63,563.

Mr Burnett is standing down at the next general election. His successor will initially represent the same area, as the boundary changes would not come into effect until the general election after next.

A second representation period on the revised recommendations will run until next month. The normal one-month period has been extended by a week to allow for the European Parliament and local government elections, and will run until July 10.

Mr Burnett said he intended to take advantage of the consultation period further to press his opposition to the proposal.