Carlisle’s MP has welcomed the first step towards changing the country’s constituency boundaries.

The new legislation has been introduced to more evenly distribute population across constituencies. If it is passed, each MP will represent the same number of electors, give or take five per cent.

John Stevenson said: “I very much welcome this long-awaited change to the boundaries. We have been waiting far too long to have a boundary review.

“It is important each constituency has broadly the same number of electors to be represented by each MP.”

Boundaries would be reviewed by an independent body every eight years and recommendations will automatically become law.

“It is also very important the review of boundaries is carried out by the independent Boundary Commission and that their proposals automatically become law,” he said.

“This should remove any delay in ensuring constituencies are kept up to date to reflect changing demographics.”