IS DEVONWALL dead?

There have been reports that proposals for a cross-border constituency — known as ‘Devonwall’ — that would incorporate Bideford, Bude, Holsworthy and Launceston — have been dropped.

Lord Paul Tyler, former MP for North Cornwall and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for constitutional and political reform, said Wednesday there had reportedly been a decision by Prime Minister Theresa May to cancel the threatened constituency boundary review — based on a previous government proposal to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600.

In the spring, the Boundary Commission for England held a second round of consultation on the controversial proposals and on its website, said: “Our Commissioners are now considering all the representations received during both consultation periods and will decide whether to revise the initial proposals.”

The Post has reached out to Number 10 Downing Street and the Boundary Commission for England to seek confirmation as to whether the boundary review has been cancelled, but has not yet had response.

However, politicians have already spoken out to welcome news that it seems ‘Devonwall’ will no longer go ahead.

Lord Tyler said: “After five years of campaigning against these damaging proposals I am delighted that we may be in sight of success. In particular, this should mean that the reduction of MPs in Cornwall won’t go through, and the ill-fated joint constituency straddling the Tamar will never happen — ‘Devonwall’ is doomed.”

“I wish that this threat had been removed years ago; only one of the present Conservative MPs in Cornwall was prepared to stand up to the party whips, or we might have achieved success much earlier.

“There is a strong case for more consistency between constituency sizes. However, there is no sense in forcing through changes, which destroy the historic integrity of communities and require the redrawing of boundaries every five years. And it would be a mad time to cut the number of MPs, just when they need to be working harder than ever to keep a check on the Government through the Brexit process.”

The leader of Cornwall Council, Adam Paynter (Lib Dem), said: “Fantastic news that it seems the Tory government will drop plans for a Devonwall parliamentary seat. I have opposed these plans from the start. The Tories had tried to bring in Devonwall several years ago to make MPs seats more winnable for them. Luckily it was the Lib Dems that stopped it last time.”