Cornish object to ‘Devonwall’ constituency

A ROW has erupted over plans for a “Devonwall” seat after the Boundary Commission proposed to create the first parliamentary constituency that straddles county lines.

Politicians are objecting to proposals for a cross-border seat between Devon and neighbouring Cornwall, contained in the report’s final recommendations for the next general election.

Local councillors say the only way to maintain Cornwall’s cultural identity is to have a separate parliamentary boundary with scone-etiquette rivals Devon - the counties traditionally disagree over whether jam or cream should be added first.

Adam Paynter, Cornwall council’s leader, has promised to object strongly against any plans joining Bude and Launceston in North Cornwall with Bideford in North Devon.

Mr Paynter, who is also the Liberal Democrat councillor for Launceston, said: “The border has been there for over 1,000 years. To ignore it now, especially when Cornwall has achieved minority status, it does contravene the essence of what that is.”

The review comes after Parliament said the number of constituencies should be cut from 650 to 600, containing between 71,000 and 78,500 electors in each. The commission said the “Devonwall” area was “unavoidable” if the plans to make constituencies more equal in size were to be successful.