Tory seats plan dead’
BOUNDARY changes that would have handed the Tories an advantage in future elections are “dead in the water”.
The plans, due to be introduced next year, would have seen MP numbers cut from 650 to 600.
Research showed 85 per cent of Labour seats were affected and 30 could disappear, while only 10-15 Tory seats would have been hit.
But the killer blow is reorganisation in Northern Ireland was likely to see the DUP lose three seats and rivals Sinn Fein gain two.
With PM Theresa May relying on the DUP to back her leadership, a government source said the plan was finished.
And a senior Tory backbencher said: “It’s not just dead, it’s double dead.”
The DUP negotiations with the Tories are due to finish next week, but senior figure Ian Paisley Jr insisted: “We don’t want cabinet positions.”