PROPOSED changes to the country’s constituency boundaries have been given support by the MP for Central Devon.

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.

The Central Devon constituency would undergo significant change. It would lose the eastern section containing Chudleigh and Brampford Speke, but gain areas including Sourton, Lifton, Boasley Cross, Germansweek, Winleigh, Petrockstow, Merton, Great Torrington and as far north as Yarnscombe.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride said: ‘I fully support the aims of the parliamentary boundary review as it will address a major flaw in our democracy — that the number of voters in constituencies across the UK varies by a staggering amount. forty six constituencies currently have electorates of less than 60,000 while 76 constituencies have electorates of more than 80,000.

‘The largest constituency has five times the number of voters as the smallest — this can not be right. The review is being conducted by the independent Boundary Commission, with the aim of ensuring seats are within five percent of the average electorate (approximately 74,500), and will also reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 for an approximate saving of £60-million over a five-year Parliament.

‘A pledge to deliver this review and implement this reform was clearly made within the Conservative General Election manifesto in 2015 and it is right that we keep our promise to deliver it.

‘Because I support the overall objectives of the review, I cannot complain that Central Devon will face changes, even though I will lose a number of communities in the east of my constituency that I have a great fondness for and have developed strong ties with.

‘Okehampton, though, is set to remain in Central Devon and I am delighted that it is. As Beaworthy is already within Central Devon, moving the rest of the West Devon ward of Bridestowe into Central Devon appears to be a logical move and I look forward to getting to know the area far better over the coming years. 

‘Another key change within Central Devon is the plan to expand the constituency up to Great Torrington, taking in a number of parishes within the Torridge district. Although it will make the huge constituency of Central Devon even larger, as a highly rural area these parishes will have much in common with the rest of Central Devon as one of the most rural constituencies in the country.’