Boundary review: Calls to scrap Tory plan to cut number of MPs.

Former deputy leader dismisses plans for changes, though maintains his party would win revised seat

A former SNP deputy leader has branded plans to cut the number of Scottish MPs “outrageous”.

Stewart Hosie would see his Dundee East constituency take in swathes of Tory-held Angus under Boundary Commission proposals to redraw the Westminster map in Scotland.

The move reduces Scots seats from 59 to 53 as part of a 7% reduction in the number of MPs across the UK.

Mr Hosie, whose heavily-reduced majority could be wiped out from the changes, backed his prospects in a redrawn battleground. However, he lashed out at cutting MP numbers north of the border, which David Cameron called for in 2011.

“It really is quite outrageous that they keep trying to persevere with reducing Scotland’s representation,” Mr Hosie said.

“Obviously, we will look at the maps in detail, but frankly this has become an annual joke as the number of MPs in Scotland is squeezed and squeezed and Scotland’s voice is squeezed correspondingly.

“I would be very confident, no matter what the configuration of the seat, that given Ruth Davidson has finally been found out, the SNP would hold a seat like that, certainly in the current circumstances.”

All the constituencies in Tayside and Fife are seeing shifts in their borders under the proposals, with most getting new names. The changes are being made to reduce parliamentary costs and ensure voters are more evenly distributed among constituencies, say UK ministers.

The commission was told to ensure each constituency has a voter population within 5% of the 74,769 UK average – although there are exceptions for larger and island constituencies.

Parties across Holyrood called for the plans to reduce the number of Scottish MPs to be dumped. Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said: “The Government should stop wasting public funds and bow to the inevitable.”

A Scottish Labour spokesman said the party “opposes any proposals to cut the number of Scottish MPs”.

However, Chris Skidmore, the UK’s constitution minister, said: “Without any boundary reforms, constituencies would be based on data that is more than 20 years old.

“This would disregard significant changes in demographics, house building and migration.”

The consultation on the revised proposals runs until December 11.

This has become an annual joke as the number of MPs in Scotland is squeezed and squeezed. STEWART HOSIE