Opinions mixed over proposed new boundaries

TAYSIDE and Fife politicians have voiced mixed opinions on proposals to re-draw Scotland’s Westminster constituencies.

At a public event i n Dundee, Willie Rennie, Liberal Democrat leader and MSP for North East Fife, said his party “broadly welcomed” the initial plans by the Boundary Commission, which would see the number of MPs in Scotland cut from 59 to 53.

If the changes go ahead, a new constituency of Angus Glens and Dundee East would be created while Dundee West would become Dundee Burgh, with only the two protected islands constituencies and East Lothian unchanged.

Mr Rennie said: “We (the Liberal Democrats) broadly welcome the proposals. We’ve got t wo specific issues to raise.With regards to the north-east, we think it makes sense to bring Banchory and Kincardine together with Angus East. We welcome the retention of North East Fife as a community based around St Andrews and Cupar.”

Meanwhile, plans for a Kinross-shire and Cowdenbeath constituency were met with fierce opposition by Alexander Stewart, an MSP and Conservative councillor on Perth and Kinross Council.

He said: “Kinross-shire has never been paired with any part of any constituency in Fife. There are no natural economic or cultural links between the areas. I don’t believe it’s in the best interest of those areas.”

Former MSP Murray Tosh, speaking on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, said that the division of Arbroath was “unnecessary” while Andrew Bowie, representing the north-east Conservative MSPs, said Banchory, which is “seen as the gateway to Deeside”, would l ose out if partnered with Kincardine and Angus East.