PROPOSED changes to the country’s constituency boundaries — including the creation of a ‘Devonwall’ constituency straddling Devon and Cornwall — have been criticised by the area’s MPs.

Under draft plans the number of parliamentary constituencies is set to fall by 50 to 600. The majority of seats will change in size and character for the first time in at least a decade.

The plans by the Boundary Commissions of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are designed to make constituencies more even in size, but if greenlit then existing MPs will be pitted against each other for re-election.

Such reviews are required by law to keep up with demographic changes influencing the number of eligible electors in each area and other factors.

Regionally, the plans have been criticised for the creation of a ‘Devonwall’ constituency that straddles the Devon-Cornwall border.

Critics suggest no MP could represent the needs of people living in both counties due to the differing issues affecting Devon and Cornwall.

Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, said: ‘The Boundary Commission for England has published the initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the South West. The rules for this set of boundaries were set out in 2011. At that time I argued strongly that we should keep Cornwall whole and that no seat should cross over between Cornwall and Devon.

‘Unfortunately I lost that argument and the legislation was laid with the priority being given to ensuring that all seats across the country are of equal size to give each elector an equal say in who runs the country. 

‘Our population in Cornwall is currently such that a cross over seat with Devon was unavoidable no matter how undesirable this was.

‘In the Boundary Commission’s initial proposals they have kept the name South East Cornwall and all constituents remain in the current seat with the exception of around 1,100 electors in the Luxulyan Parish. 

‘I would like to re-assure these constituents should the boundaries change in this way that I will continue to represent them to the best of my ability in Parliament and to help them with their issues right up to the time of the next General Election. 

‘As this would make the South East Cornwall seat too small they have proposed that the Altarnun and Stokeclimsland Divisions of Cornwall Council be added to the South East Cornwall constituency adding around 5,500 electors.  This will give a total electorate of just over 71,000.

‘Whilst I continue to be unhappy that we have a cross over seat I do believe that the Boundary Commission have made the more sensible option of not crossing in the South where as they say in their report that the river, “presents a far significant boundary between the two counties”.’

Tavistock’s constituency would see a drastic change in geography. The current Torridge and West Devon constituency stretches from south of Meavy all the way to Devon’s north coast, covering swathes of the Torridge district.

The new constituency would start just north of Lifton and Mary Tavy, instead stretching down to part of the county’s south coast, taking in Ivybridge, Newton Ferrers and Modbury.

The current Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox said: ‘We should not necessarily assume these proposals will go through. The previous proposals released a few years ago came to nothing and there is a fair chance that this will happen again.

‘However, just over one year after the General Election there are more important things to focus on in the interest of my constituency, such as pushing forward on rural broadband; ensuring that the proposed redesign of our health services produces a fair and reasonable outcome for our communities and ensuring the Brexit deal and the new national policies which will replace EU competences are good for the UK and for Torridge and West Devon.

‘However, I will say that I am disappointed that the commission has resorted once again to the flawed notion of a hybrid Devon-Cornish seat.

‘I believe it is not desirable to have a constituency that straddles the divide. These two counties are very distinct and have strong separate identities.

‘I believe combining parts of the two counties in one constituency would give rise to competing pressures. Ultimately, while he or she would do their best, it would be very difficult for an MP to reconcile these wholly different and sometimes conflicting interests.’