By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 12:18, Wednesday, 17 October 2012

In the face of boundary changes in west Cumbria, MP Tony Cunningham admitted: “For me it would have been ideal to keep the ones we’ve got.”

Tony Cunningham

Plans to get rid of one MP in west Cumbria were mooted yesterday when the Boundary Commission unveiled its latest proposals.

It wants to reduce MPs in Cumbria from six to five.

Labour MP Mr Cunningham, who is working in Nairobi, Kenya, said: “We thought the proposal would be to lose a seat in west Cumbria.

“For me it would have been ideal to have kept the boundaries that we’ve got.”

The constituency of Carlisle could stretch all the way north to the Border under the proposals .

The seat, held by Tory John Stevenson, would take in Longtown and Kershopefoot – areas previously covered by Penrith and the Border.

Mr Stevenson said: “The new revised proposed boundaries are far more in tune with the geography and communities of Cumbria.

“The whole concept behind the proposals was twofold – to reduce the number of MPs, which the proposals do and to create a degree of voter fairness.

“That is what we are aiming to achieve and I support that.”

Penrith and the Border would become Penrith and the Solway stretching all the way over from Silloth and Aspatria in the west to Alston Moor.

This area would also include Cockermouth, Dalston and Keswick.

Mr Stewart, Tory MP for Penrith and the Border, said: “It seems like a good proposal, reflecting Cumbrian geography and communities.”

Cumbria county councillor Geoff Cook, chairman of Westmorland and Lonsdale Liberal Democrats said: “The news about the proposed boundaries is welcome”

First published at 12:08, Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk