AN MP has criticised a ‘ridiculous’ proposed rejig of voting boundaries which would see Windermere moved into a western Lakes constituency.

Tim Farron said ‘only someone who has never been to Cumbria’ could have drawn up the suggested new boundaries for the county - part of a national shake-up of constituencies.

The proposed changes would see Windermere and Ambleside, currently in Westmorland and Lonsdale, become part of a ‘Copeland and the Western Lakes’ constituency.

Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale would fall into a ‘Westmorland and Eden’ constituency also encompassing Penrith and Alston, while Carnforth would move from Morecambe and Lunesdale into a new ‘Morecambe and South Lakeland’ area.

Mr Farron’s home village of Milnthorpe would move from the current Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency into Morecambe and South Lakeland.

And Grange would fall under the Barrow and Furness area instead of Westmorland and Lonsdale.

However, he vowed that his party, the Liberal Democrats, would be successful in the area regardless of any boundary changes.

“However ridiculous these proposals are, they are only draft proposals and, whatever seats eventually do get agreed, we will fight and fight to win - we’ve won Westmorland five times against the odds so far, so we’ll do it again,” said the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP.

Public opinion is being sought on the proposals from the BCE - an advisory, non-departmental government body which is sponsored by the Cabinet Office. This will be part of an eight-week consultation process.

The BCE says the aim of the shake-up is to ensure the number of electors in each constituency in the country is more equal. The number of constituencies would rise from 533 to 543.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said he was concerned about losing parts of High Furness as part of the proposed shake-up.

The suggested rejig of borders would see Broughton and Kirkby, currently in the Barrow and Furness voting area, moved into Copeland and the Western Lakes.

However, he stressed the suggestions were ‘by no means set in stone’.

Final recommendations will be presented to Parliament by July 2023.

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